dragonflies

Roseate Skimmer

The Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) is a large skimmer found around quiet waters such as ponds, lakes, and ditches. It is native to the Americas with distribution from Canada to Brazil. The dragonfly is about two inches long and has a wing span up to 1 3/4 inches. Female skimmers are golden brown or yellow but can look more like the brightly colored males, pictured here, in sunlight. Males vigorously defend their territory.
Photo Credit: Dan Kon
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Needham’s Skimmer

The Needham’s Skimmer (Libellula needhami) is found most often in coastal areas throughout Florida. This species of dragonflies was named after James Needham, an American entomologist.
The adult male Needham’s Skimmer’s body is orangish-red while the female’s body is yellow. Both have pale orange wings. Adults grow to 2.1 inches. Look for them in wetlands, ponds, and brackish water.
Photo Credit: David Gale
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Common Green Darner

Common Green Darners, (Anax junius), are found throughout Florida. These large dragonflies are easily recognizable with their bright green coloring and iridescent wings. Juveniles with purple abdomens grow into females who have green abdomens or males with blue abdomens. Males have an eyespot on their head that gives the appearance of a cyclops.
Look for Common Green Darners near water sources in the wild or in your yard. They are somewhat migratory and breed in the Southern US, including Florida, in fall and early winter. Females deposit one egg at a time into the stem of an underwater plant. Juveniles, known as Naiads, are born. They look like tiny lobsters and spend their days underwater where they dine on tadpoles and insects before moving to dry land and growing into an adult.
Common Green Darners prey on bees, wasps, butterflies, and midges. Perhaps the best reason to encourage them to visit your yard is they will help control the mosquito population.
Photo Credit: Dan Kon
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Dragonflies and Damselflies

Blue Dasher

Blue-ringed Dancer

Common Green Darner

Dragonfly

Eastern Pondhawk Dragonfly

Ebony Jewelwing Dameselfly

Great Blue Skimmer

Halloween Pennant Dragonfly

Needham’s Skimmer

Roseate Skimmer

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Seaside Dragonlet

The Seaside Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax berenice, is the only North American dragonfly that breeds in saltwater.

Native to Florida, these small dragonflies can be found in mangrove swamps, salt marshes, and coastal strands throughout Florida. Adult males are a dusty dark blue, juveniles are yellow and black, and adult females’ color varies. Seaside Dragonlets dine on other insects and can be seen year-round near Florida’s coasts.

Photo Credit: Dan Kon

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Eastern Pondhawk Dragonfly

Common throughout the eastern United States and parts of Canada and Central America, Eastern Pondhawks, E. simplicicollis simplicicollis, are often found near still waters in wetlands and near ponds. Females are bright green with black markings on their abdomen. Males are blue with beautiful green faces.

Eastern Pondhawks will dash from their perch on plants near the ground to snatch prey which includes damselflies and other insects. They will carry their meal off to eat at a suitable place.

With only an average reproductive life of 10 days, reproduction occurs often and sometimes more than once a day. Mating occurs on vegetation and the female deposits her eggs on the water within a minute.

Fun fact: Dragonfly fossils have been dated at over 300 million years old. This means that dragonflies existed more than 100 million years before dinosaurs!

Photo Credit: Dan Kon

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Halloween Pennant Dragonfly

Halloween Pennant Dragonfly (Celithemis eponina).

This not-so-spooky dragonfly gets its name from its orange and black coloring. Yellow markings can be found on females and juvenile males. As males mature, their coloring starts to turn into a more vibrant color of orange. This is the largest species of pennant dragonfly in eastern North America. They can commonly be found around lakes, streams, or other wetland areas and are most active in the morning.

Photo Credit: Dan Kon, Aymee Laurain

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