Neon Skimmer (Libellula croceipennis)
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Our most brilliantly colored king skimmer, the neon skimmer is also one of the most numerous species in the Hartman Prehistoric Garden. The red males spend much of their time chasing each other and other species out of their territory. This species mates on the wing, but, as shown below, the pair briefly remains together afterwards as they rest.
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Once mating is complete, the females can frequently be seen laying eggs, as in the photo below. They fly in loops, dipping their tails into the water and laying an egg each time with a small splash. The male usually hovers nearby. Because fish relish the eggs, the skimmers lay only a few eggs in any particular location before shifting to another area, usually without losing the rhythm of their flight pattern.
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The aquatic larvae of dragonflies are voracious predators which will eat mosquito larvae, tadpoles, and even baby fish. While the nymphs usually just walk about on the bottom of a pond, ambushing prey, they can also swim by means of jet propulsion, forcing water out of their anus. The above photo shows a neon skimmer nymph.
The female neon skimmer is a golden brown color. The individual pictured below had recently emerged from her larval shell and was allowing her wings to fully dry.
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class: Insecta / order: Odonata / family: Libellulidae / genus: Libellula / species: croceipennis
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