Painted Skimmer vs Blue Hawker

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Painted Skimmer Blue Hawker
Scientific Name Libellula semifasciata Aeshna caerulea
Order Odonata Odonata
Family Libellulidae Aeshnidae
Size 40-47 mm 54-64mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Heathland
Diet Omnivores Predators
Regions North America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Near Threatened

Painted Skimmer

An attractive dragonfly with amber-tinted wings marked by brown bands and spots. It is an early-season flier in eastern North America.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the earliest dragonflies to emerge in spring across the eastern United States.

Blue Hawker

A small hawker dragonfly with bright blue spots on males and yellow spots on females. It is restricted to high-altitude bogs and moorlands in northern latitudes. It tolerates very cold conditions.

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Did You Know?

It breeds in some of the coldest and most inhospitable habitats of any European dragonfly, flying in near-freezing conditions.