SOUTHERN SKIMMER
This cracking insect was the first dragonfly that I photographed once I had moved to Kefalonia, and so, has always been a favourite. They can grow up to 40 to 50mm (about 2 in) in length, with the males having a pale blue abdomen and thorax. The females have a yellowish brown or greyish brown thorax and abdomen. The abdomens of this species are flattened and have a black middorsal line and distinct points on each segment. The guidebooks say that southern skimmers prefer shallow, fast flowing streams or ditches, but I have seen a lot of them near marshes and basking on pebbles at the beach.
The adults can be spotted from June until August, with the males defending their territory near the water. Mating takes place on the ground, with the female laying her eggs on the water surface whilst flying. Sometimes the male will accompany her to keep other males away. The larvae are ferocious predators, living buried in the silt in unshaded shallow water. They stay in this state for 2 to 3 years before emerging as adults.
