Blue Skimmer Dragonfly
Family: Odonata
Suborder: Anisoptera
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Orthetrum
Orthetrum caledonicum
Blue Skimmer Dragonfly is a very common dragon found in Australia, most commonly found around the water in the Big Swamp in summer months. They are about 5 cms in length and have wing span of about 6-7 cms. The males are powder blue in colour, hence the name Blue Skimmer. The females are yellow.
Both the sexes are born yellow. Interestingly the males change colour from yellow to blue as they mature. The male dragonfly's body gradually develops a waxy coating in the early stages of its life. When light passes through the colloidal wax, all light is absorbed except the blue light, which gets scattered by the particles of the wax, making the insect look blue (Tyndall Effect). The process of colour change is called Pruinescence. This process doesn't happen in females which remain yellow throughout their life.
Suborder: Anisoptera
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Orthetrum
Orthetrum caledonicum
Blue Skimmer Dragonfly is a very common dragon found in Australia, most commonly found around the water in the Big Swamp in summer months. They are about 5 cms in length and have wing span of about 6-7 cms. The males are powder blue in colour, hence the name Blue Skimmer. The females are yellow.
Both the sexes are born yellow. Interestingly the males change colour from yellow to blue as they mature. The male dragonfly's body gradually develops a waxy coating in the early stages of its life. When light passes through the colloidal wax, all light is absorbed except the blue light, which gets scattered by the particles of the wax, making the insect look blue (Tyndall Effect). The process of colour change is called Pruinescence. This process doesn't happen in females which remain yellow throughout their life.
Male
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Female
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