# Bar-winged Skimmer (*Libellula axilena*) The Bar-winged Skimmer is a beautiful dragonfly with bright colors and unique wing patterns. They love to fly around ponds and lakes, where they can be seen darting through the air. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Bar-winged Skimmer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Libellula_axilena.jpg&width=800) Photo: pondhawk, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Libellula_axilena.jpg) ## Appearance The Bar-winged Skimmer has a robust body and clear wings, distinctively marked with a dark brown or black patch at the base of each hindwing. Males are powdery blue, while females are yellowish-brown, both featuring a prominent dark pterostigma near the wingtip. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Libellula ## Interesting facts - Dragonflies are ancient insects, soaring for over 300 million years! - Males patrol territories over water, chasing away other dragonflies that intrude. - Their young live underwater for up to two years, breathing through special gills! - They can control their body temperature by adjusting how much they fly or perch. ## Special abilities - **360 Vision:** Bar-winged Skimmer has huge compound eyes that help them spot tiny flying prey and predators from almost any direction. - **Aerial Acrobatics:** Bar-winged Skimmer can instantly change direction mid-air because of their four independently controlled wings, allowing amazing agility. - **Lightning Strike:** Bar-winged Skimmer can dart forward at incredible speeds to snatch insects right out of the air using their spiny legs like a basket. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 60-80 mm - **Size:** 40-50 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 35 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These skillful aerial hunters feast on tiny flying insects like mosquitoes and flies, keeping populations in check. - **Age differences:** Nymphs hunt underwater insects; adults catch flying prey. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, flies, gnats, midges, smaller moths - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Yellow Fever Mosquito](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-fever-mosquito) (*Aedes aegypti*) — Eats these pesky flying insects - **Eaten by:** [Green Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-frog) (*Rana clamitans*) — Often becomes a meal for hungry frogs - **Eaten by:** [Northern Pike](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-pike) (*Esox lucius*) — Large fish prey on their aquatic nymphs - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — An effective predator of mosquito adults ## Traits - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Dragonflies are friendly and won't hurt you, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bar-winged Skimmer? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Bar-winged Skimmer's wingspan? 60-80 mm ### How big is Bar-winged Skimmer? 40-50 mm ### How long does Bar-winged Skimmer live? 30-60 days ### How fast can Bar-winged Skimmer fly? 35 km/h ### What does Bar-winged Skimmer eat? These skillful aerial hunters feast on tiny flying insects like mosquitoes and flies, keeping populations in check. ### Where is Bar-winged Skimmer usually found? Wetlands ### How does Bar-winged Skimmer hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Florida Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/florida-botanical-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Stephen C. Foster State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stephen-c-foster-state-park) — Georgia, US · State Park - [Singletary Lake State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/singletary-lake-state-park) — North Carolina, US · State Park - [Fort Christmas Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-christmas-historical-park) — Florida, US · Park [View all places to see Bar-winged Skimmer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bar-winged-skimmer) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Bar-winged Skimmer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bar-winged-skimmer)