Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum) | Species | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Male. Taken at Plazishte, Bulgaria, on June 22nd 2014. (1/1600th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings) Female. Taken at Plazishte, Bulgaria on June 22nd 2014. (1/800th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings) Mating pair. Taken at Rupite Hot Springs, Bulgaria on July 21st 2015. (1/500th sec at f10. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings) DescriptionWing span: 66 - 74mm; Body length: 41 - 49mm A rather plain, medium-sized skimmer. Males become totally blue, and females are brown. It is found in southern and central Europe, and as far east as Mongolia. Has extended northwards in Europe since the 1990s. It favours small streams, running ditches and seepages, often scantily vegetated. Adults are on the wing between April and September. Males often perch on the ground, or on stakes beside running water. Sightings
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