ExploreInsects

Needham's Skimmer

Libellula needhami

Needham's Skimmer is a colorful dragonfly with bright orange and yellow wings. They love to fly around ponds and wetlands, catching tiny bugs to eat. Watching them zoom is super fun!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Needham's Skimmer is a medium-sized dragonfly with a striking appearance. Males are bright reddish-orange with orange-tinged wing bases and brown spots near the tips. Females are yellowish with a dark stripe down the back, making them distinct from the males.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyLibellulidaeGenusLibellula
Needham's Skimmer
solitary trait badgeaerial trait badgecolorful trait badgeinsectivorous trait badge
Needham's Skimmer

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

9

Interesting facts

A Needham's Skimmer can eat hundreds of pesky mosquitoes in a single day!

Before becoming an adult, they live underwater as a fierce larva for years.

Their four wings can move separately, letting them perform amazing aerial stunts.

These dragonflies can see almost all around them at once, even behind!

Special abilities

Ability

Eagle Eyes

Needham's Skimmer has huge compound eyes that give them nearly 360-degree vision, helping them spot tiny prey.

Ability

Aerial Ace

Needham's Skimmer can hover, fly backward, and change direction instantly because of its independently moving wings.

Ability

Net Legs

Needham's Skimmer uses its spiky, basket-like legs to scoop small flying insects right out of the air while flying.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
60-80 mm
Size
40-50 mm
Lifespan
30-90 days
Flight Speed
45 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

They are skilled aerial hunters, catching tiny flying insects like mosquitoes and flies in mid-air.

Age differences: Nymphs are aquatic predators, feeding on tadpoles and small fish; adults are aerial predators.

Primary Foods

  • Mosquitoes
  • Midges
  • Flies
  • Small butterflies
  • Small moths

Foraging Method

  • Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Mosquito

Culex pipiens

eats adult mosquitoes in flight

hunts

House Fly

Musca domestica

catches adult flies in mid-air

eaten by

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

birds catch adult skimmers

eaten by

American Bullfrog

Lithobates catesbeianus

frog preys on nymphs and adults

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

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 Needham's Skimmer?

The easiest way to identify Needham's Skimmer is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

What is Needham's Skimmer's wingspan?

60-80 mm

How big is Needham's Skimmer?

40-50 mm

How long does Needham's Skimmer live?

30-90 days

How fast can Needham's Skimmer fly?

45 km/h

What does Needham's Skimmer eat?

They are skilled aerial hunters, catching tiny flying insects like mosquitoes and flies in mid-air.

Where is Needham's Skimmer usually found?

Wetlands

How does Needham's Skimmer hunt?

Pursuit

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