White Tail (male) - approx. 4.5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Plathemis (Whitetails)
Species: Lydia
White Tail (female) - approx. 4.5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Plathemis (Whitetails)
Species: Lydia
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (male) - approx. 5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Libellula
Species: Pulchella
More Twelve-spotted Skimmer Dragonflies
More Twelve-spotted Skimmers
Updated November 3 2009
Blue Dasher (male) - approx. 4 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Pachydiplax
Species: Longipennis
Also known as Swift Long-winged Skimmer or Blue Pirate
More Blue Dasher Dragonflies
More Blue Dashers
Updated April 24 2013
Blue Dasher (female) - approx. 4 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Pachydiplax
Species: Longipennis
Also known as Swift Long-winged Skimmer or Blue Pirate
Band-winged Meadowhawk (male) - approx. 4.5 cm
length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Sympetrum (Meadowhawks)
Species: Semicinctum
Also known as Half-banded Toper - distinguished from
other Meadowhawks by the yellowish band along the
wing bases - forewings are sometimes entirely clear
More Band-winged Meadowhawk Dragonflies
More Band-winged Meadowhawks
Updated September 2 2011
Autumn Meadowhawk (female) - approx. 3.5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Sympetrum (Meadowhawks)
Species: Vicinum
Formerly known as Yellow-legged Meadowhawk - male
meadowhawks are usually red - females are usually yellow
or brown - autumn refers to the late flight season of this
species
More Autumn Meadowhawk Dragonflies
More Autumn Meadowhawks
Updated April 4 2019
Autumn Meadowhawk (male) - approx. 3.5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Sympetrum (Meadowhawks)
Species: Vicinum
Formerly known as Yellow-legged Meadowhawk - male's
colour varies with temperature - many meadowhawks are
difficult to distinguish from a photograph
More Autumn Meadowhawks
White-faced Meadowhawk (male) - approx. 3.5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Sympetrum (Meadowhawks)
Species: Obtrusum
Some dragonflies regulate their body temperature by
aligning their abdomens relative to the sun
More White-faced Meadowhawk Dragonflies
More White-faced Meadowhawks
Updated September 6 2017
White-faced Meadowhawk (female) - approx. 3.5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Sympetrum (Meadowhawks)
Species: Obtrusum
More White-faced Meadowhawks
Updated September 6 2017
Skimmer Dragonflies
Page Last Updated: January 23 2021
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Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Black Saddlebag - approx. 5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Tramea (Saddlebags)
Species: Lacerata
Eastern Pondhawk (male) - approx. 5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Erythemis (Pondhawks)
Species: Simplicicollis
Also known as Green Clearwing
More Eastern Pondhawk Dragonflies
More Eastern Pondhawks
Updated January 28 2013
Eastern Pondhawk (female) - approx. 5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Erythemis (Pondhawks)
Species: Simplicicollis
Also known as Green Clearwing
More Eastern Pondhawks
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Eastern Amberwing (male) - approx. 2.5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Perithemis (Amberwings)
Species: Tenera
One of the smallest dragonflies in North America
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Updated April 4 2019
Updated January 28 2013
20 species
More Autumn Meadowhawk Dragonflies
More White-faced Meadowhawk Dragonflies
More Eastern Pondhawk Dragonflies
4-spotted Skimmer - approx. 4.5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Species: Quadrimaculata
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Genus: Libellula
More Blue Dasher Dragonflies
More Blue Dashers
Updated April 24 2013
White Tail (juvenile male) - approx. 4.5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Plathemis (Whitetails)
Species: Lydia
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
The juvenile male has the same body pattern as the
female and the same wing pattern as the male
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (female) - approx. 5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Libellula
Species: Pulchella
More Twelve-spotted Skimmer Dragonflies
More Twelve-spotted Skimmers
Updated November 3 2009
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Dot-tailed Whiteface Skimmer (male) - approx. 3.5 cm length
Widow Skimmer (male) - approx. 4.5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Species: Intacta
Species: Luctuosa
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Genus: Leucorrhinia (Whitefaces)
Genus: Libellula
Twelve-spot Skimmer (juvenile male) - approx. 5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Libellula
Species: Pulchella
More Twelve-spot Skimmer Dragonflies
More Twelve-spot Skimmers
Updated November 3 2009
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
The juvenile male has the same body pattern as the
female and the same wing pattern as the male
Frosted Whiteface (female) - approx. 4 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Species: Frigida
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Genus: Leucorrhinia (Whitefaces)
More Frosted Whiteface Dragonflies
Updated November 1 2010
More Frosted Whiteface Dragonflies
Also known as Jagged-edged Saddlebag
Red Saddlebag - approx. 4.5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Tramea (Saddlebags)
Species: Onusta
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
The similar Carolina Saddlebag (T. carolina) lacks clear
window on inside of wing patch and the black mark on
segment A8 usually extends to bottom of segment -
possibly Carolina Saddlebag (see below)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Kingdom: Animalia
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Class: Insecta
More Dot-tailed Whiteface Dragonflies
Updated January 28 2013
More Dot-tailed Whiteface Dragonflies
Chalk-fronted Corporal (male) - approx. 4 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Species: Julia
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Genus: Ladona (Corporals)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
More 4-spotted Skimmers
Updated August 3 2011
More 4-spotted Skimmers
More Black Saddlebag Dragonflies
Updated November 17 2013
More Black Saddlebag Dragonflies
More Red Saddlebag Dragonflies
Updated October 5 2014
More Red Saddlebag Dragonflies
More Widow Skimmer Dragonflies
Updated November 30 2016
More Widow Skimmer Dragonflies
Abdomen becomes increasingly whiter with age
Dot-tailed Whiteface Skimmer (female) - approx. 3.5 cm
length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Species: Intacta
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Genus: Leucorrhinia (Whitefaces)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
More Dot-tailed Whiteface Dragonflies
Updated January 28 2013
More Dot-tailed Whiteface Dragonflies
More White Tail Dragonflies
More White Tail Dragonflies
Updated January 27 2013
More White Tail Dragonflies
More White Tail Dragonflies
Updated January 27 2013
More White Tail Dragonflies
More White Tail Dragonflies
Updated January 27 2013
White-faced Meadowhawk (juvenile) - approx. 3.5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Sympetrum (Meadowhawks)
Species: Obtrusum
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
More White-faced Meadowhawk Dragonflies
More White-faced Meadowhawks
Updated September 6 2017
Black Meadowhawk (female) - approx. 3 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Sympetrum (Meadowhawks)
Species: Danae
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
More Black Meadowhawk Dragonflies
More Black Meadowhawks
Updated February 28 2013
The male is black - often small amber patch at base of
hindwings
Unidentified Meadowhawks - approx. 3 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Sympetrum (Meadowhawks)
Species: ?
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
More Unidentified Meadowhawk Dragonflies
More Unidentified Meadowhawks
Updated January 28 2013
Many meadowhawks are difficult to distinguish from a
photograph
Male and female are similar in patterning with the female
being paler
Widow Skimmer (female) - approx. 4.5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Species: Luctuosa
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Genus: Libellula
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
More Widow Skimmer Dragonflies
Updated November 30 2016
More Widow Skimmer Dragonflies
More Eastern Amberwing
Updated October 2 2014
More Eastern Amberwing Dragonflies
Eastern Amberwing (female) - approx. 2.5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Perithemis (Amberwings)
Species: Tenera
One of the smallest dragonflies in North America
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
More Eastern Amberwing
Updated October 2 2014
More Eastern Amberwing Dragonflies
Photograph by Ed McAskill
Photograph by Ed McAskill
Carolina Saddlebag - approx. 5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Tramea (Saddlebags)
Species: Carolina
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
The similar Red Saddlebag (T. onusta) has a clear window
on inside of wing patch and the black spot on segment A8
does not extend to bottom of segment
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
More Carolina Saddlebag Dragonflies
Updated October 5 2014
More Carolina Saddlebag Dragonflies
Photograph by Ed McAskill
Band-winged Meadowhawk (female) - approx. 4.5 cm
length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Genus: Sympetrum (Meadowhawks)
Species: Semicinctum
Also known as Half-banded Toper - distinguished from
other Meadowhawks by the yellowish band along the
wing bases - forewings are sometimes entirely clear
More Band-winged Meadowhawk Dragonflies
More Band-winged Meadowhawks
Updated September 2 2011
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Photograph by Ed McAskill
Frosted Whiteface (male) - approx. 4 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Species: Frigida
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Genus: Leucorrhinia (Whitefaces)
More Frosted Whiteface Dragonflies
Updated November 1 2010
More Frosted Whiteface Dragonflies
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Photograph by Ed McAskill
Spot-winged Glider - approx. 5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Species: Hymenaea
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Genus: Pantala (Rainpool Gliders)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Photograph by Ed McAskill
White Tail Dragonfly (male) - approx. 4.5 cm length - East Don Valley (Charles Sauriol Conservation Area) - June 2008
White Tail Dragonfly (female) - approx. 4.5 cm length - Lower Don Valley (Crother's Woods) - June 2011
Twelve-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly (male) - approx. 5 cm length - Lower Don Valley (Brickworks) - August 2007
Blue Dasher Dragonfly (male) - approx. 4 cm length - Lower Don Valley (Brickworks) - July 2011
Blue Dasher Dragonfly (female) - approx. 4 cm length - Lynde Shores Conservation Area (Whitby) - July 2009
Autumn Meadowhawk Dragonfly (female) - approx. 3.5 cm length - Lower Don Valley (Brickworks) - August 2007
White-faced Meadowhawk Dragonfly (male) - approx. 3.5 cm length - Lower Don Valley (Brickworks) - August 2007
Black Saddlebag Dragonfly - approx. 5 cm length - Lynde Shores Conservation Area (Whitby) - September 2007
Eastern Pondhawk Dragonfly (female) - approx. 5 cm length - High Park - August 2010
4-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly - approx. 4.5 cm length - Beaver Creek (Richmond Hill) - May 2009
White Tail Dragonfly (juvenile male) - approx. 4.5 cm length - Lower Don Valley (Crother's Woods) - June 2009
Twelve-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly (female) - approx. 5 cm length - High Park - June 2010
Widow Skimmer Dragonfly (male) - approx. 4.5 cm length - High Park - July 2012
Twelve-spot Skimmer Dragonfly (juvenile male) - approx. 5 cm length - Lower Don Valley (Brickworks) - July 2009
Red Saddlebag Dragonfly - approx. 4.5 cm length - Humber Valley (Humber Arboretum) - August 2010
Chalk-fronted Corporal (male) - approx. 4 cm length - Lower Don Valley (Brickworks) - July 2011
Band-winged Meadowhawk (male) - approx. 4.5 cm length - Kortright Centre for Conservation - August 2011
Dot-tailed Whiteface Skimmer Dragonfly (female) on Cattails - approx. 3.5 cm length - East Don Valley (Charles Sauriol Conservation Area) - May 2008
White-faced Meadowhawk Dragonfly (juvenile) - approx. 3.5 cm length - Lynde Shores Conservation Area (Whitby) - September 2007
Black Meadowhawk Dragonfly (female) - approx. 3 cm length - Kortright Centre for Conservation - July 2009
Unidentified Meadowhawk Dragonflies - approx. 3 cm length - Lower Don Valley (Brickworks) - September 2012
Autumn Meadowhawk Dragonfly (male) - approx. 3.5 cm length - Kortright Centre for Conservation - September 2009
White-faced Meadowhawk Dragonfly (female) - approx. 3.5 cm length - Leslie Spit - July 2010
Spot-winged Glider - approx. 5 cm length - Humber Bay Park - September 2012
Frosted Whiteface Skimmer Dragonfly (female) - approx. 4 cm length - East Point Park - June 2010
Eastern Pondhawk Dragonfly (male) - approx. 5 cm length - Rouge Park - June 2012
Dot-tailed Whiteface Skimmer Dragonfly (male) - approx. 3.5 cm length - Rouge Park - June 2012
Carolina Saddlebag Dragonfly - approx. 5 cm length - Rouge Park - September 2013
Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly (female) - approx. 2.5 cm length - Rouge Park - August 2012
Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly (male) - approx. 2.5 cm length - Rouge Park - August 2012
Band-winged Meadowhawk (female) - approx. 4.5 cm length - Rouge Park - July 2012
Frosted Whiteface Skimmer Dragonfly (male) - approx. 4 cm length - Rouge Park - July 2012
Widow Skimmer Dragonfly (female) - approx. 4.5 cm length - York Regional Forest (Robinson Tract) - June 2016
Wandering Glider - approx. 5 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Species: Flavescens
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Genus: Pantala (Rainpool Gliders)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Wandering Glider - approx. 5 cm length - Ashbridge's Bay - August 2017
Pale colouration and soft wings (difficulty in flying) of a
teneral
Belted Whiteface (male) - approx. 4 cm length
Family: Libellulidae (Common Skimmers)
Species: Proxima
Order Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies)
Genus: Leucorrhinia (Whitefaces)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Belted Whiteface Skimmer Dragonfly (male) - approx. 4 cm length - Wye Marsh (Midland) - July 2019