Hoary Skimmer
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Libellula nodisticta
Hagen, 1861
Order Odonata
Suborder Anisoptera
Superfamily Libelluloidea
Family Libellulidae
Genus Libellula
Species nodisticta Hagen, 1861 [Libellula]
Identification
This is a distinct, but uncommon, western species that just gets into our region. It face is yellow with a black crossstripe and the top of the frons is furrowed and black. The thorax is brown with a pale middorsal stripe that becomes obscured with age. The lateral sutures on the sides of the thorax are outlined in black and there are four yellow spots. The wings have a basal brown stripe extending out to the level of the triangle and there is a smaller spot on the nodus. The area behind and below the basal stripe becomes pruinose with age. The veins and pterostigma are black and the legs are black. The abdomen is brown or black becoming darker
posteriorly and with an interrupted lateral pale stripe. The caudal appendages are black. Males develop pruinescence over the front of the thorax and entire abdomen.
Size
Total length: 46-52 mm; abdomen: 32-35 mm; hindwing: 37-42 mm.
Similar Species
Bleached Skimmer (L. composita
) has a white face, amber basal wing spots and lacks thoracic spots. Eight-spotted Skimmer (L. forensis
) has a broad crossband of brown at the wing nodus. Four-spotted Skimmer (L. quadrimaculata
) lacks the basal brown stripe in the forewing.
Habitat
Ponds, lakes and streams with little flow
Discussion
This species is not found east of the Navahonian biotic province. Despite its local abundance in certain western localities, little has been documented about its behavior and habits.
Distribution
Western U.S., west of the Rocky Mountains south into Mexico.
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