26-5-2024 LAGUNA DE SILLA, ALBUFERA - BLACK TAILED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Orthetrum cancellatum)

Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey (Turkey-in-Europe), Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and in part of United Kingdom.

The black-tailed skimmer is abundant throughout its range and is one of the most commonly seen dragonflies in Europe. It holds a stable population and has no known major threats.

This species has expanded its range, assisted by the creation of gravel pits which give it the extensive open unvegetated areas it prefers. It was first recorded in Great Britain in Essex in 1934. It is decreasing rapidly in the Maltese Islands.

26-9-2021 DEVESA. VALENCIA - 26-9-2021 DEVESA. VALENCIA - BLACK TAILED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Orthetrum cancellatum)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62067-Orthetrum-cancellatum

8-9-2021 EL FONDO, ALICANTE - BLACK TAILED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Orthetrum cancellatum)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62067-Orthetrum-cancellatum

12-5-2021 EL HONDO, ALICANTE - BLACK TAILED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Orthetrum cancellatum)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62067-Orthetrum-cancellatum

 

19-6-2019 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - BLACK TAILED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Orthetrum cancellatum)

1-8-2018 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, VALENCIA - BLACK TAILED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Orthetrum cancellatum)

The black-tailed skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) is a dragonfly belonging to the family Libellulidae.

This species is widespread in Europe and Asia. It is found throughout European continent including the Mediterranean islands but is absent in the north of Britain and the northern half of Fennoscandia. This is one of the most common European species and it is still increasing its range northwards. To the east, the range extends over central Asia to Kashmir, Mongolia to the northern parts of China and Arunachal Pradesh in India.

It is present in Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (Corsica, and mainland), Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey (Turkey-in-Europe), Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and in part of United Kingdom.

The black-tailed skimmer is abundant throughout its range and is one of the most commonly seen dragonflies in Europe. It holds a stable population and has no known major threats. 

This species has expanded its range, assisted by the creation of gravel pits which give it the extensive open unvegetated areas it prefers. It was first recorded in Great Britain in Essex in 1934. It is decreasing rapidly in the Maltese Islands.

This dragonfly is found at any open water with bare patches along the shore where the patrolling males frequently rest in the sun. It also inhabits near slow-flowing waters. It favors lakes, slow rivers, ponds and sometimes marshy area, without dense riparian vegetation. Females are less bold and not encountered as regularly. Adults prefer to perch on bare ground and rocks.