Orthetrum

Skimmers
Female Orthetrum chrysostigma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Libellulidae
Subfamily: Libellulinae
Genus: Orthetrum
Newman, 1833[1]

Orthetrum is a large genus of dragonflies in the Libellulidae family.[2] They are commonly referred to as skimmers.

The size of adults within the genus ranges from small to large; in Africa, the hindwing ranges in length from 22 to 50 mm. The bodies of adult females and recently emerged males are yellow to brown with black markings; these may facilitate identification of individuals to species level. Mature males, however, develop blue-grey pruinosity over most of their bodies - this makes species identification difficult without the capture of a specimen and inspection of the shape of the hamule.[3]

  1. ^ Newman, Edward (1833). "Entomological notes". Entomological Magazine. 1. London: 505–514 [511] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  2. ^ "Genus Orthetrum Newman, 1833". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  3. ^ Dijkstra, K.-D. B. "ADDO -- African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online". www.zoology.uct.ac.za. Retrieved 11 May 2017.