Orthetrum cancellatum - Black-tailed Skimmer - Orthétrum réticulé

Description

The Black-tailed Skimmer gets its name from its habit of flying just above the water surface, usually by lakes, ponds or slow-moving rivers. The male is often seen basking on sun-warmed stones or patches of bare earth, to which it will frequently return. The female Is yellowish-brown, becoming greyish with age, with two black lines running the length of the body. The male is powder blue with a dark end to the abdomen and dark green eyes.

Male at Lac du Salagou, 8th July 2004

Male at Lac des Olivettes, Roujan, 14th July 2008

Male at Lac du Salagou, 1st September 2004

Teneral (newly emerged) female, plan d'eau, Lunas (34), 20th May 2005

Pair in copulation wheel, Camargue, 23rd September 2004

Observations

26/05/2004   3 males basking on the ground and skimming over Lac du Salagou, Hérault (34).

13/06/2004   Single female near Octon, Hérault (34).

30/06/2004   Several individulas of both sexes at Lac de Vezouls, Hérault (34).

08/07/2004   About 30 males and females by the Lac du Salagou, Hérault (34).

01/09/2004   Several males by the Lac du Salagou, Hérault (34).

20/05/2005   Teneral female at the plan d'eau, Lunas, Hérault (34).

01/06/2005   About 10 observed, including mating pairs, on the River Mare at St-Etienne-d'Estrechoux (34)

22/06/2006   Several males patrolling lake edge at Lac du Salagou (34). Also a couple of females resting in bushes near to lake.

22/06/2006   Several males and a few pairs in cop. Females seen ovipositing after mating. Plan d'Eau, Lunas (34)

20/07/2006   Several males (10-30) along the edges and skimming over Lac de Bourdelet, Riols (34).

29/04/2007   10-30 seen including pairs in cop and females ovipositing at Lac du Salagou

08/06/2007   2 males and 1 female seen at the Scamandre reserve in the Petit Camargue

09/06/2007   10-30 males and females at the Pallisade Reserve in the Camargue

10/06/2007   100+ males and females seen at the Parc Ornithologique, Pont de Gau in the Camargue

22/06/2007   3-10 males and females seen at the Lac de Vésoles

22/06/2007   3-10 males and females seen at the Lac de Bourdelet (near Vésoles)

10/07/2008   2 males at the Plan d'eau near Lunas

09/06/2009   2 or 3 males over the water surface at the Barrage des Olivettes.