The scarlet skimmer or ruddy marsh skimmer, Crocothemis servilia, is a species of dragonfly of the family Libellulidae, native to east and southeast Asia and introduced to Jamaica, Florida, and Hawaii.
It is a medium sized blood-red dragonfly with a thin black line along the mid-dorsal abdomen. Its eyes are blood-red above, purple laterally. Thorax is bright ferruginous, often blood-red on dorsum. Abdomen is blood-red, with a narrow black mid-dorsal carina. Anal appendages are blood-red. Female is similar to the male; but with olivaceous-brown thorax and abdomen. The black mid-dorsal carina is rather broad.
While in its aquatic naiad phase, scarlet skimmer preys on various small aquatic organisms. As an adult, it captures mosquitoes, flies, and other insects mid-air using its agile flight. This voracious diet is driven by the need to sustain its energy-intensive flying and mating activities.
It breeds in ponds, ditches, marshes, open swamps and rice fields.