Smaller, or pattern-winged Skimmers
What are they?
The skimmers form the major part of the family Libellulidae, a family of often brightly-colored dragonflies that hunt conspicuously over ponds or from open perches. This section covers the species that are either small to medium-sized, or have wings obviously patterned with black patches.
Identification
Generally an easy group to identify to species due to their conspicuousness. Pattern-winged species can be identified by the arrangement of wing markings while with others - such as the corporals - may involve checking the thorax pattern too. Immature males that haven't fully colored up can be hard to tell from females in some species, but the blunter tip to the abdomen of females usually contrasts with the more pointed tip of the males.
Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia
Length: 1.6-1.7 inches. Flight time: Late April to early November. A common and widespread species, found in most habitats and wandering freely later in the season. The patterned wings make this an easily-identifiable species, while the males pale powder-blue to chalky white abdomen is very eye-catching.
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White Corporal Ladona exusta
Length: 1.3-1.4 inches. Flight time: Late April to early August. Though widespread in New Jersey, this species doesn't appear to be particularly common in Cape May County, though single individuals may be found at a wide range of habitats. Males are most likely to be confused with Common Whitetail but has unpatterned wings (except for a small basal patch of black). Females can look similar to females of some of the larger skimmers, but are smaller and 'chunkier'; they differ from female Blue Corporal in having just a thin, dark line running down the top of the abdomen.
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Blue Corporal Ladona deplanata
Length: 1.3-1.4 inches. Flight time: Early April to late July. A common and often abundant small dragonfly and often the first to be seen in the spring. May be found in a wide range of habitats and can be extremely common along woodland trails, roads and glades in late April and early May. Males seem to take a long time to color up (or have a very extended emergence) and immature-colored males are frequently observed throughout spring and early summer. In very mature males, the 'corporal stripes' on the thorax become hidden by blue coloration.
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Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa
Length: 1.7-1.8 inches. Flight time: Mid April to early October. A common, widespread and very eye-catching species which may be found around most types of wetlands or on field edges and other open or scrubby areas. The large black patch at the base of the wings (like a widow's black shawl) is diagnostic for this species.
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Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella
Length: 2.0 inches. Flight time: Mid May to late October. A common, widespread and very eye-catching species. The exuberant pattern on the wings of the male perhaps makes this the most attractive of Cape May's dragonflies. The female could be mistaken for a female Common Whitetail but is larger, with a longer and more slender abdomen.
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Painted Skimmer Libellula semifasciata
Length: 1.7-1.9 inches. Flight time: Mid May to mid October. A common and widespread species, especially around old cranberry bogs in the north of the county. Unusually for this group, the males and females are almost identical in outward appearance.
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Elfin Skimmer Nannothemis bella
Length: 0.8 inches. Flight time: Mid May to early September. Restricted to old cranberry bogs and other pristine sphagnum bogs. A minuscule dragonfly that is smaller than many damselflies.
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Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis
Length: 1.5-1.7 inches. Flight time: Mid May to late October. One of the commonest and most widespread dragonflies in the region which may be found in most habitats, including lightly-polluted water. Both sexes have a white face, while females and immature males have bold zig-zag stripes on the sides of the thorax.
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Seaside Dragonlet Erythrodiplax berenice
Length: 1.3 inches. Flight time: Mid May to mid September. A widespread and often remarkably abundant small dragonfly which is most commonly found in saltmarsh habitats, but also appears at inland waterways. An unusually variable species, the female in particular can have spotted or unspotted wings and have an abdomen that can be mostly black, orange, or black spotted with orange. Immature males can be similarly variable.
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