Orthetrum taeniolatum

• Scientific name: Orthetrum taeniolatum (Schneider, 1845)
• English name: Small Skimmer
• German name: Zierlicher Blaupfeil
• French name: N/A
• Dutch name: Kleine oeverlibel
• Swedish name: N/A
• Norwegian name: N/A
• Finnish name: N/A
• Danish name: N/A
• Italian name: N/A
• Czech name: N/A
• Slovenian name: N/A
• Bulgarian name: N/A
• Typical length: 33-38 mm
• Hindwing: 25-28 mm

Orthetrum taeniolatum

Map data based on J.-P. Boudot & V. J. Kalkman (eds.),
Atlas of the European Dragonflies and Damselflies

The Small Skimmer's claim to fame is that it's the smallest Orthetrum species in Europe. In fact, Orthetrum taeniolatum's body length is only about 35 mm. In our experience the species likes to sit on pebbles and rocks (especially right at one's feet, it seems) and as soon as they alight they tend to flip up their abdomen to assume the obelisk position. As in many other species of the genus the mature males are covered in a light-blue pruinescence and at that stage it's really their small size which sets them apart most readily from their congeners. When immature, the males share the same pretty colour scheme as the females, combining black, brown and beige. They also display two whitish bands on the side of the thorax. Another useful feature to identify the species is the brown colour of the top of the eyes. Orthetrum taeniolatum is an Asian species which reaches the Eastern Mediterranean shores of some Greek islands in the Aegean (e.g. Rhodes and Lesbos).