Epaulet Skimmer Dragonfly Orthetrum chrysostigma

Epaulet Skimmer male
Epaulet Skimmer male
The Epaulet Skimmer is a southern European and African dragonfly. A little similar to the Keeled Skimmer of the UK, it has a narrow elongated body with central raised "keel". Above is the attractive pale blue male with turquoise eyes, but the "epaulet" marking on the thorax that gives it its name is not often clear and darkens with age.
Epaulet Skimmer teneral male
Epaulet Skimmer teneral male
Epaulet Skimmer young male
The white "epaulet" is shown on the teneral male above. Female Epaulet Skimmers are hard to find, but are similar to the teneral males, but completely yellow ochre in colour.
Epaulet Skimmer male with red-veined dropwing
Epaulet Skimmer male with red-veined dropwing
This male has also found that females are hard to find and has coupled with a white-sided Red-veined Dropwing.
Epaulet Skimmer male
She rejected him
Epaulet Skimmer
Epaulet Skimmer
Epaulet Skimmer young male
He sits on the ground on warm stone or concrete a lot rather than the high vantage point plants/twigs favoured by darters.