| Common Name: | Fiery Skimmer |
Distribution
Male
Female
Female
more photos
|
| Scientific Name: | Orthetrum villosovittatum (Brauer, 1865) |
| Distribution: | Common along the east coast of Australia from Sydney to Cape York
but also found in eastern Victoria at lower altitudes and in the Northern Territory.
Also found in New Guinea and surrounding islands. |
| Description: | A medium sized dragonfly.
Mature males have a dark head and thorax whilst the abdomen is bright red and a small, dark patch at the base of the hindwings.
The thorax of females is grey–yellow and the abdomen is yellow to orange–yellow. |
| Similar Species: | Very similar to
Orthetrum migratum, the males of which don't have a pinched abdomen (and they aren't known south of Queensland).
Female Crocothemis nigrifrons
are quite similar to female O. villosovittatum. |
| Habitat: | Inhabits a range of generally clear waters including trickles, ponds and swamps. |
| Behaviour: | Regularly perch horizontally on vegetation.
Females oviposit in flight, dipping her tail into the water whilst the male patrols above. |
| Observations: |
I have seen this species at a couple of locations in Gippsland whilst there are also records from around Beechworth. |
| Links & References: |
Wildiaries
Atlas of Living Australia
Brisbane Insects
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