Libellulidae, Skimmer Family
"Most Wanted" Species
Species of the genus Libellula (king skimmers) often perch on shoreline vegetation, are stout bodied, and usually have distinctive body and wing patterns.
Status-Global/State:
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Adult golden-winged skimmers are about 2.0 inches long with reddish-brown eyes. Adult males have an orange-brown face and thorax and a bright orange abdomen with a black dorsal (top) stripe. Their wing veins become orange from the front to the rear of the wing and the stigma is red. Females and immature males have a brown face and thorax. They have two pale stripes on the sides of the thorax and a broad white mid-dorsal stripe on the thorax as well. They have a yellow abdomen with a black dorsal stripe and yellow tinged wings with yellow stigmas.
Description of Habitat/Range:
Found at open ponds and lakes with heavier shore vegetation, shallow ponds with tall grass, and fishless ponds. This species likely disburses on an erratic basis from locations to the south and may be found along the Lake Michigan shoreline. In Wisconsin, adults were first reported in 2024, and the species is not known to breed here. Please report any evidence of breeding (pairs in wheel, ovipositing females, tenerals, nymphs, or exuviae) to the Wisconsin Odonata Survey.
Flight Season:
In Wisconsin, reports date from June and July. In New Jersey, it has been reported from May to October. Southern states record them from April to October.
(Click on photos to enlarge)
