Common in South-East Queensland 

One of the most widespread and commonly seen dragonflies in South-East Queensland, the Blue Skimmer Orthetrum caledonicum is found throughout Australia. It brings its wings to rest with two or three forward jerks after alighting. Males have a powder blue thorax and abdomen pruinescent blue when mature. The females are brownish grey in colour while the teneral are yellow with black markings. They are medium in size, with a body length of 45 mm and a wingspan of 70 mm. Male abdomen whitish blue with last four segments black. Outer wings with brownish golden smoky suffusion. Older females develop a similar bluish bloom on body surface as they mature, but not as intense as the male.

Photo: Robert Whyte

Photo: Robert Whyte

This Blue Skimmer shows the pruinescent blue (pruinescent or pruinose means covered with powdery granules; powdery in appearance). Photo: Robert Whyte