Golden-winged Skimmer

Libellula auripennis

The Golden-winged Skimmer is a beautiful dragonfly with shiny golden wings. It loves to fly over ponds and lakes, catching tiny bugs to eat. Watching it zoom around is like seeing a little superhero in the sky!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Golden-winged Skimmer has distinct golden-orange patches at the base of its wings, especially on the hindwings. Its body is typically yellowish-brown, maturing to a reddish-brown in older males, contrasting with their large, dark eyes. This golden wing coloration helps distinguish it.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyLibellulidaeGenusLibellula

Golden-winged Skimmer

Interesting facts

A single Golden-winged Skimmer can eat hundreds of mosquitoes in just one day!

Dragonflies were among the very first winged insects to ever exist on Earth millions of years ago!

Dragonfly babies, called naiads, live underwater for years, breathing with gills!

They can fly backwards, sideways, and even hover perfectly still, just like a tiny helicopter!

Special abilities

Golden-winged Skimmer can expertly hover and fly in all directions because of powerful, independently controlled wings.

Golden-winged Skimmer has enormous compound eyes that provide almost 360-degree vision, helping them spot tiny prey.

Golden-winged Skimmer can snatch flying insects mid-air using its spiny legs, which form a handy basket.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 60-80 mm
Size: 44-58 mm
Lifespan: 30-90 days
Flight Speed: 25 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

These skillful aerial hunters feast on smaller flying insects.

Age differences: Larvae are aquatic predators, eating small aquatic invertebrates and tadpoles; adults hunt flying insects.

Primary Foods

mosquitoes
flies
midges
small moths
gnats

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Mosquito

Aedes aegypti

Reduces mosquito populations.

eats

Midge

Chironomus plumosus

Feeds on abundant aquatic midges.

eaten by

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Caught by aerial bird predators.

eaten by

American Bullfrog

Rana catesbeiana

Adults and larvae consumed by frogs.

Traits

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

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.