Friends of Big Swamp
  • About
    • Friends of Big Swamp
    • Big Swamp
  • FLORA & FAUNA
    • Flora
    • Birds of Big Swamp >
      • Black Swan
      • Great Crested Grebe
      • New Holland Honeyeater
      • Musk Duck
      • Red Capped Parrot (or King Parrot)
      • Splendid Fairy Wren
      • Yellow Billed Spoonbill
    • Fauna >
      • Dragonflies and Damselflies >
        • Blue Skimmer Dragonfly
    • Vermin Species and Management
    • Wildcare and Injured Animals
  • Location & Maps
  • Projects & Research
    • Bird Count
    • Water Balance Project 2016
    • Big Swamp Interpretive Loop Walk 2017
    • Field Survey of Flora and Fauna 2007
    • Weed Management 2007 - present
  • Photo Gallery
  • Contact
  • Supporters and Links
  • Regular Activities
  • Calendar

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.

​B
oth 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. ​​
Picture
Male
Picture
Female

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​Prince Philip Dr, South Bunbury WA 6230

Contact Us

friendsofbigswamp@mail.com
We would like to acknowledge the photographs supplied by David Addy, Terri Sharp, Bunbury Museum, Tom Brightwell, Maurice Colley, King Cottage Museum, Carol Strang.
Website by CloudStoke Media
  • About
    • Friends of Big Swamp
    • Big Swamp
  • FLORA & FAUNA
    • Flora
    • Birds of Big Swamp >
      • Black Swan
      • Great Crested Grebe
      • New Holland Honeyeater
      • Musk Duck
      • Red Capped Parrot (or King Parrot)
      • Splendid Fairy Wren
      • Yellow Billed Spoonbill
    • Fauna >
      • Dragonflies and Damselflies >
        • Blue Skimmer Dragonfly
    • Vermin Species and Management
    • Wildcare and Injured Animals
  • Location & Maps
  • Projects & Research
    • Bird Count
    • Water Balance Project 2016
    • Big Swamp Interpretive Loop Walk 2017
    • Field Survey of Flora and Fauna 2007
    • Weed Management 2007 - present
  • Photo Gallery
  • Contact
  • Supporters and Links
  • Regular Activities
  • Calendar