# Great Blue Skimmer (*Libellula vibrans*) The Great Blue Skimmer is a beautiful dragonfly with bright blue wings and a shiny body. It loves to fly around ponds and lakes, catching tiny insects to eat. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 14 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Great Blue Skimmer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Great_Blue_Skimmer_Libellula_vibrans_2008-08-20.jpg&width=800) Photo: Gaberlunzi (Richard Murphy), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Great_Blue_Skimmer_Libellula_vibrans_2008-08-20.jpg) ## Appearance The Great Blue Skimmer has a robust body, with adult males displaying a distinctive powdery blue coloration across their abdomen and thorax. Its wings are clear, often with a subtle amber tint at the base, setting it apart from other skimmers by its uniform blue and clear wing pattern. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Libellula ## Interesting facts - Dragonflies are ancient insects, having existed on Earth before the first dinosaurs appeared! - Dragonfly larvae, called nymphs, live underwater for years before they emerge to fly! - Their wings are incredibly strong, allowing them to fly even if one wing is slightly damaged. - They are excellent pest controllers, eating thousands of mosquitoes and gnats. ## Special abilities - **360° Vision:** Great Blue Skimmer has huge compound eyes that help them spot tiny prey and hidden predators in nearly all directions at once. - **Acrobatic Flight:** Great Blue Skimmer can hover, dart, and fly backward because of its two sets of independently controlled wings. - **Underwater Stealth:** Great Blue Skimmer nymphs can blend perfectly with pond debris because of their dull, mottled bodies, avoiding detection. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 75-110 mm - **Size:** 50-70 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Flight Speed:** 35 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding This insect is an expert aerial hunter, catching other flying insects in mid-air! - **Age differences:** Nymphs eat aquatic insects and tadpoles, while adults hunt flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, gnats, flies, moths, small butterflies - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Actively preys on adult mosquitoes, helping control their populations. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-kingbird) (*Tyrannus tyrannus*) — Birds often snatch adult skimmers from the air as a food source. - **Eaten by:** [Largemouth Bass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/largemouth-bass) (*Micropterus salmoides*) — Largemouth bass frequently consume dragonfly nymphs in freshwater habitats. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [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. - [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 Great Blue 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 Great Blue Skimmer's wingspan? 75-110 mm ### How big is Great Blue Skimmer? 50-70 mm ### How long does Great Blue Skimmer live? 30-90 days ### How fast can Great Blue Skimmer fly? 35 km/h ### What does Great Blue Skimmer eat? This insect is an expert aerial hunter, catching other flying insects in mid-air! ### Where is Great Blue Skimmer usually found? Wetlands ### How does Great Blue Skimmer hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/battle-creek-cypress-swamp-sanctuary) — Maryland, US · Nature Reserve - [Cedarville State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedarville-state-forest) — Maryland, US · Forest - [Concord](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/concord) — Tennessee, US · Neighborhood - [Dead Run Stream Valley Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dead-run-stream-valley-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Ebenezer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ebenezer) — Georgia, US · Neighborhood - [Augusta Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/augusta-botanical-gardens) — Georgia, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Great Blue Skimmer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/great-blue-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: [Great Blue Skimmer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-blue-skimmer)