# Skimmers (*Libellulidae*) Skimmers are colorful dragonflies that love to fly over water. They have long bodies and wide wings, making them great at catching insects in the air. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Skimmers](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sympetrum_flaveolum_-_side_%28aka%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sympetrum_flaveolum_-_side_%28aka%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Skimmers are medium-sized dragonflies, often with a stout body and large, prominent eyes. They display diverse colors, from reds and blues to browns and yellows, sometimes with patterned wings. Their broad, flattened abdomen often helps distinguish them from other dragonfly types. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae ## Interesting facts - A Skimmer can snatch a mosquito out of the air and eat it without even landing! - Skimmer babies, called nymphs, live underwater for up to five years before they can fly! - Skimmers are one of the fastest insects, able to fly at speeds up to 45 kilometers per hour! - Some Skimmers are expert long-distance travelers, migrating thousands of kilometers across oceans! ## Special abilities - **Super Sight:** Skimmers have nearly 360-degree vision because their massive compound eyes help them spot prey and predators from almost any direction. - **Acrobatic Flight:** Skimmers can fly forwards, backwards, and hover in mid-air because their four independent wings allow for incredibly precise maneuverability. - **Mighty Mouthparts:** Skimmers can quickly devour their prey because they possess strong, serrated mouthparts perfect for tearing up insects mid-flight. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 40-110 mm - **Size:** 25-90 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-180 days - **Flight Speed:** 45 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Skimmers are aerial predators, catching and eating other insects right out of the air! - **Age differences:** Nymphs hunt aquatic insects and tadpoles underwater, while adults hunt flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, flies, midges, small butterflies - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** African malaria mosquito (*Anopheles gambiae*) — Reduces mosquito populations, controlling disease. - **Eaten by:** [American Bullfrog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bullfrog) (*Rana catesbeiana*) — Larval skimmers are prey for larger aquatic predators. - **Eaten by:** [Osprey](https://www.snappit.app/explore/osprey) (*Pandion haliaetus*) — Adult skimmers are sometimes caught by birds. ## 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 Skimmers are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Skimmers? 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 Skimmers's wingspan? 40-110 mm ### How big is Skimmers? 25-90 mm ### How long does Skimmers live? 30-180 days ### How fast can Skimmers fly? 45 km/h ### What does Skimmers eat? Skimmers are aerial predators, catching and eating other insects right out of the air! ### Where is Skimmers usually found? Wetlands ### How does Skimmers hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Bear Lake State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-lake-state-park) — Utah, US · State Park - [Westside Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/westside-park) — South Carolina, US · Park - [Crooked Creek Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crooked-creek-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see Skimmers](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/skimmers) ## 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: [Skimmers: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/skimmers)