Southern Skimmer
(Orthetrum brunneum)

The Southern Skimmer is quite a common species in Central and Southern Europe, but it's largely absent from the North of Europe. It's a medium-sized dragonfly which prefers small, sunny streams. The male Orthetrum brunneum is entirely pruinescent light blue, both on the thorax and the abdomen. His face is a whitish pale blue. The females are most easily recognised by their golden brown thorax and abdomen, the light whitish patches on the side of their thorax, and the comparatively short pterostigma.

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