# 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! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Needham's Skimmer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Needham's_Skimmer_-_Libellula_needhami.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mike Ostrowski, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Needham's_Skimmer_-_Libellula_needhami.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Libellula ## 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 - **Eagle Eyes:** Needham's Skimmer has huge compound eyes that give them nearly 360-degree vision, helping them spot tiny prey. - **Aerial Ace:** Needham's Skimmer can hover, fly backward, and change direction instantly because of its independently moving wings. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-winged-blackbird) (*Agelaius phoeniceus*) — birds catch adult skimmers - **Eaten by:** [American Bullfrog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bullfrog) (*Lithobates catesbeianus*) — frog preys on nymphs and adults ## 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. - [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 Needham's 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 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 ## Where to spot - [Houston Arboretum and Nature Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/houston-arboretum-and-nature-center) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (Charleston, South Carolina)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/magnolia-plantation-and-gardens-charleston-south-carolina) — South Carolina, US · Botanical Garden - [Eden Gardens State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/eden-gardens-state-park) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Gallaudet College Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gallaudet-college-historic-district) — District of Columbia, US · Historic District - [Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jug-bay-wetlands-sanctuary) — Maryland, US · Nature Reserve - [Lake Charles Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-charles-historic-district) — Louisiana, US · Historic District [View all places to see Needham's Skimmer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/needhams-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: [Needham's Skimmer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/needhams-skimmer)