The following photo shows a Slaty Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula incesta) spotted during a photowalk at Huntley Meadows Park on 07 July 2014. This individual is an immature male, as indicated by its coloration, hamules, and terminal appendages.
Slaty Skimmer dragonflies display sexual dimorphism, that is, coloration is different for mature males and females. Immature males and immature/adult females are nearly identical in appearance except for their terminal appendages. Another useful field marker: females have dark wing tips; males, not so much.
Immature male Great Blue Skimmer dragonflies (Libellula vibrans) and immature male Slaty Skimmers are somewhat similar in appearance. In addition to other key field markers such as differences in the coloration of their faces and legs, some odonate experts say you can see a “wolf head” on the side of the thorax of Slaty Skimmers.
The preceding photograph shows the wolf head more clearly than any photo I’ve taken of Slaty Skimmer dragonflies. Look at the full-size version of the photo.
Related Resources:
- Great Blue Skimmer dragonfly (immature male) II
- Great Blue Skimmer dragonfly (immature male) I
- Great Blue Skimmer dragonflies (immature males)
Editor’s Note: “Odonatacoccygia” is defined as seeing shapes in the patterns on odonates, and I should know, since I coined the term! Do you see the wolf head on the side of the thorax? I do!
Copyright © 2014 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: Great Blue Skimmer dragonfly, Huntley Meadows Park, immature male, Libellula incesta, Libellula vibrans, odonatacoccygia, sexual dimorphism, Slaty Skimmer dragonfly, terminal appendages, wildlife photography
walter sanford's photoblog 
July 13, 2014 at 5:21 am |
Wonderful shot. I can’t really see a wolf’s head. It feels a bit like looking for shapes in the clouds–each person sees his or her own images.
July 13, 2014 at 7:17 am |
Seeing shapes in clouds is called “nephalococcygia.” The word translates to “cloud cuckooland,” meaning you must be crazy if you see shapes in clouds! I should coin a comparable term for seeing shapes in the patterns on odonates, like maybe “odonatacoccygia.”
July 13, 2014 at 5:06 pm |
It may help you to visualize a cartoon wolf, Mike. Like Hokey Wolf, for those of us old enough to remember Hanna-Barbera cartoons. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokey_Wolf
July 13, 2014 at 4:31 pm |
I, on the other hand, see that wolf’s head!
July 13, 2014 at 4:36 pm |
I’m left-handed; I’m imaginative and creative. I see the wolf head in this photo, although I don’t see it in every side-view of Slatys.
March 12, 2015 at 5:01 am |
[…] members of the Skimmer Family of dragonflies, such as Great Blue Skimmer (Libellula vibrans) and Slaty Skimmer (Libellula […]