Great Blue Skimmer

Here's a Great Blue Skimmer, or at least that's my best theory. Since the males have light blue abdomens while the females are instead brown, I believe that this is a juvenile. It certainly has the white face that's rare in our dragonflies, and has blue eyes that I'd expect to see (though the eyes are a paler blue in adults).

Great Blue Skimmers are considered the largest skimmer that lives in NJ, though they're considered a little mellower than the typical skimmer.

Fun fact: Great Blue Skimmers are not closely related to Great Blue Herons. 😀

June 17, 2021 at the Plainsboro Preserve
Photo 141958903, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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