Insects diurnal

Southern Skimmer

Orthetrum brunneum

A master of the summer heat, the Southern Skimmer is easily identified by the striking, uniform powder-blue coat of the mature male. This territorial sentinel is a common sight around sunny garden ponds, where it defends its domain with unmatched aerial agility.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 40-45 mm (1.6-1.8 in); Wingspan: 65-70 mm (2.5-2.8 in)

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Colors

Mature males are entirely powder-blue (pruinose) including the face; females and juveniles are ochre-yellow to olive-brown with two dark longitudinal lines on the abdomen.

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Key Features

Uniform powder-blue body in mature males
Light blue or whitish face (males)
No black tip on the abdomen
Clear wings with small yellowish-brown pterostigma (wing spots)

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 10 AM - 4 PM

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Season June-August

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Diet A fierce aerial predator, it feeds on a wide variety of flying insects including mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and occasionally smaller damselflies, which it captures during short, explosive bursts of flight.

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Habitat Prefers sunny, shallow, and slow-moving or stagnant waters such as garden ponds, irrigation ditches, and small streams with sparse vegetation.

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Behavior

The Southern Skimmer is a sun-loving, highly territorial dragonfly that spends much of its day patrolling the edges of shallow water. Males are particularly known for their 'perch and patrol' strategy, where they claim a specific stick, stone, or patch of bare earth as their own. They will aggressively chase off any competing males or other large insects that enter their airspace, almost always returning to the exact same perch once the intruder has been banished.

Unlike many other dragonflies that prefer to cling to tall reeds or grasses, the Southern Skimmer has a peculiar habit of perching low to the ground or on flat, sun-warmed surfaces. This behavior is partly to regulate their body temperature and partly to get a clear view of any prey flying overhead. They are exceptionally fast flyers but are generally less wary of humans than other skimmers, often allowing for close observation if approached without sudden movements.

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Camera Tips

Capturing the Southern Skimmer on a backyard camera is all about identifying their favorite perches. Look for flat rocks, bare patches of soil, or low-lying sticks near the edge of a pond that receive direct sunlight for most of the day. Because this species is highly territorial and predictable, if you see one landing on a specific spot, there is a very high probability it will return to that exact same location within minutes. Position your camera on a tripod or mount at a low angle (6-12 inches off the ground) to get an eye-level perspective of the dragonfly.

Lighting is your best friend and your worst enemy with this species. The 'pruinescence'—the waxy blue powder on the male's body—can easily reflect harsh midday sun and result in a 'blown out' white appearance in photos. To combat this, set your camera's exposure compensation to -0.3 or -0.7. If your camera allows for macro settings or has a close-focus lens, use it; these dragonflies are small, and you want to fill the frame to capture the intricate wing venation and the subtle blue of the face.

For those using motion-activated trail cameras, the Southern Skimmer might be too small to trigger standard PIR sensors. Instead, use a camera with a 'time-lapse' mode set to take a photo every 30 seconds during the peak hours of 11 AM to 2 PM. Alternatively, you can 'bait' a specific area by placing a dry, attractive branch at a 45-degree angle over the water's edge. Ensure the background is as far away as possible to create a beautiful blurred effect (bokeh) that makes the powder-blue body of the skimmer pop against the greenery.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Southern Skimmer.

Black-tailed Skimmer

The Black-tailed Skimmer has a distinct black tip on its abdomen and a dark face, whereas the Southern Skimmer is blue throughout.

Keeled Skimmer

Smaller and slimmer than the Southern Skimmer, the Keeled Skimmer has a brownish face and more yellowish-brown wing spots (pterostigma).

Frequently Asked Questions

Southern Skimmer are most active during the hottest, sunniest parts of the day, typically from late morning to mid-afternoon (10 AM to 4 PM). Unlike some species that retreat to the shade, they thrive in direct sunlight.

To attract Southern Skimmer, provide a shallow, sunny water source like a garden pond. Ensure the area is not overly shaded and include several flat 'basking' rocks or low perches near the water's edge for them to land on.

They eat a variety of small flying insects. They are beneficial to have in gardens because they consume large quantities of mosquitoes, midges, and flies, which they catch in mid-air.

Yes, they are quite adaptable and are frequently found in suburban gardens, especially those with wildlife ponds or located near slow-moving drainage ditches or streams.

The most reliable way is to look at the tip of the abdomen and the face. The Southern Skimmer is blue all the way to the end and has a blue face, while the Black-tailed Skimmer has a prominent black tip and a dark face.

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