Black-tailed Skimmer

Orthetrum cancellatum

The Black-tailed Skimmer is a beautiful dragonfly with a black tip on its tail. It loves to fly over ponds and lakes, showing off its bright colors and graceful movements.

Hábitat: Wetlands

Aspecto

The Black-tailed Skimmer has a robust body. Adult males are striking with a powdery pale blue abdomen and a distinct black tip, while females and immature males are yellowish-brown with a dark stripe. All have clear wings with a dark spot near the tip.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseInsectaOrdenOdonataFamiliaLibellulidaeGéneroOrthetrum

Black-tailed Skimmer

Categoría

Insectos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Black-tailed Skimmers are like natural bug zappers, helping to control mosquito populations!

Dragonfly larvae can live for several years underwater, shedding their skin many times as they grow.

These ancient insects have been flying for over 300 million years, even before dinosaurs!

They form a 'mating wheel' in the air, a special shape to lay their eggs safely in the water.

Habilidades especiales

Black-tailed Skimmer has huge compound eyes that help them spot tiny flying insects from far away, even behind them.

Black-tailed Skimmer can fly forwards, backwards, and hover because of their powerful, independently moving wings, making them super agile hunters.

Black-tailed Skimmer larvae can breathe underwater and have a unique extendable jaw that helps them ambush other small aquatic creatures.

Medidas y detalles

Envergadura: 70-80 mm
Tamaño: 44-50 mm
Esperanza de vida: 30-60 días
Velocidad de vuelo: 30-60 km/h
Cantidad de patas: 6

Dieta y alimentación

Agile hunters of small flying insects, both as aquatic larvae and aerial adults.

Diferencias por edad: Larvae hunt underwater, ambushing aquatic invertebrates, while adults are aerial predators of flying insects.

Alimentos principales

mosquitoes
midges
flies
small butterflies
aphids

Método de búsqueda

Pursuit

Conexiones ecológicas

eaten by

European Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

Kingfishers are fast birds that can catch adult dragonflies.

eaten by

European Perch

Perca fluviatilis

Fish in ponds often feast on young dragonfly larvae.

hunts

Common House Mosquito

Culex pipiens

Black-tailed Skimmers are expert hunters of mosquito adults.

eaten by

Common Frog

Rana temporaria

Frogs are opportunistic predators that will eat adult skimmers.

Rasgos

Aéreo

Las criaturas aéreas pasan una parte importante de su vida en el aire, utilizando el vuelo para diversas actividades como la caza, la migración o la anidación.

Colorido

Colorido describe a organismos u objetos que exhiben una amplia variedad de colores brillantes y distintivos.

Insectívoro

Este rasgo identifica a los organismos cuya dieta consiste principalmente en insectos y otros pequeños invertebrados.

Humedal

Este rasgo de hábitat identifica especies que se encuentran en humedales, que son áreas de tierra saturadas de agua, ya sea permanente o estacionalmente, e incluyen marismas, pantanos y ciénagas.