Another dragonfly ID please

colincurry · #1 (**permalink**) 20-07-2007, 07:27 PM

I think this is a Scarce Chaser. The body seems to be triangular - is this a keel? The face and pterostigma colours seem wrong for a Keeled Skimmer.

I am quite resigned to it being something completely different.

Anyway, help, please

Colin

GuyF · #2 (**permalink**) 20-07-2007, 08:17 PM

If it's got a black tip to the tail, which I think I can see, then I'd say it's a Black-tailed Skimmer - Orthetrum cancellatum. Nice shot as well, an interesting angle.
Guy

harasseddad · #3 (**permalink**) 21-07-2007, 10:54 AM

It's not a black-tailed skimmer, as these have green eyes. Annoyingly we can't see the base of the hind wing, which should be black/brown in a chaser. Despite this though, I think the eye colour is sufficient to cal it as a scarce chaser.

colincurry · #4 (**permalink**) 22-07-2007, 06:54 PM

Thanks for the replies - I did ask it to turn round ....

Colin

eccles · #5 (**permalink**) 23-07-2007, 10:01 PM

Female scarce chasers grip the males halfway down the abdomen during mating, rubbing off their blue puriescence. Males have blue grey eyes. Therefore I'm pretty certain that this is a male scarce chaser that has mated. The name is getting to be a bit of a misnomer these days as their range is increasing.