Eastern Pondhawk vs Slaty Skimmer

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Eastern Pondhawk Slaty Skimmer
Scientific Name Erythemis simplicicollis Libellula incesta
Order Odonata Odonata
Family Libellulidae Libellulidae
Size 55-63 mm wingspan 45-52 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Ponds & Lakes
Diet Predators Omnivores
Regions North America, Central America North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Eastern Pondhawk

A robust skimmer dragonfly where mature males are powdery blue and females are vivid green. It is an aggressive predator that ambushes prey from low perches.

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Did You Know?

Eastern pondhawks are fierce predators that regularly attack and eat other dragonflies, including species larger than themselves.

Slaty Skimmer

A dark, slate-blue dragonfly of eastern North America. Mature males are uniformly dark blue-black, making them distinctive at ponds.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few North American dragonflies where males are almost entirely dark blue-black.