Blue skimmer

Orthetrum caledonicum

"Orthetrum caledonicum" is a common Australian dragonfly. The species is widespread throughout mainland Australia and extending to Tasmania. It is also found in New Guinea, New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands and Lesser Sunda Islands.
Smile Of A Dragon Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum caledonicum) Taken with a Nikon 55- 250 zoom and a set of cheap extension tubes which combined is a lot cheaper than a dedicated macro lens and more versatile because of the zoom range plus the use of different sized extension tubes varying the magnification. Australia,Blue skimmer,Geotagged,Orthetrum caledonicum,Spring

Appearance

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 4.5 cm and a wingspan of 7 cm.
Steel Blue Dragon Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum caledonicum) Taken with an old Sigma 150-500 zoom at the side of a lake in Black Duck Reserve Murrumba Downs, luckily it stayed still long enough to get just one shot! Australia,Blue skimmer,Geotagged,Orthetrum caledonicum,Spring

Habitat

It inhabits a range of still and flowing water habitats including temporary waters.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderOdonata
FamilyLibellulidae
GenusOrthetrum
SpeciesO. caledonicum
Photographed in
Australia