Libellula needhami, or Needham's skimmer, is a species of skimmer in the family of dragonflies known as Libellulidae.[2][3][4][5] It is found in the Bahamas, Cuba, Mexico, and the United States.[2]

Libellula needhami
Female
Male
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Libellula
Species:
L. needhami
Binomial name
Libellula needhami
Westfall, 1943

The IUCN conservation status of Libellula needhami is "LC", least concern, with no immediate threat to the species' existence. The population is stable.[1][6]

The species is named after the American entomologist James George Needham.[7][8]

Description

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Males have a red face, while females have a brown or yellow face.[8]

This species can be separated from the very similar Libellula auripennis by the following:

  • their posterior (rear) wing veins do not become orange[8]
  • their costa changes color on opposite sides of the node: outer half is lighter, inner half is darker[9]
  • their hind tibia are brown, not black[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b Paulson, D.R. (2017). "Libellula needhami". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T51276359A80697363. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T51276359A80697363.en. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Libellula needhami Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  3. ^ "Libellula needhami species details". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  4. ^ "Libellula needhami". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  5. ^ "Libellula needhami Species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  6. ^ "Odonata Central". Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  7. ^ Westfall, Jr., Minter J. (March 1943). "The Synonymy of Libellula auripennis Burmeister and Libellula jesseana Williamson, and a Description of a New Species, Libellula needhami (Odonata)". Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 69 (1). American Entomological Society: 17–31. JSTOR 25077502.
  8. ^ a b c "Needham's Skimmer Libellula needhami Westfall, 1943". New York Natural Heritage Program. State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
  9. ^ a b "Misc images, intended to be viewed from other sites". Fotki.

Further reading

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  • Kalkman, V. J. (2013). Studies on phylogeny and biogeography of damselflies (Odonata) with emphasis on the Argiolestidae (PhD). Leiden University. hdl:1887/22953.
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