Diet

• Orthemis discolor is a predatory dragonfly. Adults capture small flying insects, including flies and other small insects, while the aquatic larvae prey on aquatic invertebrates and insect larvae.

Range

• The Carmine Skimmer has a broad distribution from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America and southward through much of South America.

• Orthemis discolor occurs in the Zihuatanejo area, where it is associated with ponds and wetland habitats and is particularly noticeable during the rainy season.

Habitat

• It favours ponds, lakes, canals and other quiet or slow-moving waters, including both permanent and temporary water bodies. It is particularly associated with wetlands and wooded areas near water.

• Around Zihuatanejo, suitable habitat includes seasonal ponds, freshwater pools, lagoons and wetland margins within tropical dry forest and coastal vegetation.

• Adults often perch around the margins of ponds and other quiet water, making short flights to capture prey.

Description

• The Carmine Skimmer is a medium to large dragonfly, with a body approximately 47–56 mm long.

• Mature males are strikingly coloured, with a reddish to carmine or purplish-red face and eyes and a similarly coloured abdomen. The wings are mostly clear with dark veins and may have very narrowly darkened tips.

• Females are predominantly orange-brown to brown and have a conspicuous pale longitudinal pattern on the thorax. The sexes look sufficiently different that females can initially be mistaken for other Orthemis species.

• It can be distinguished from the very similar Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) by its combination of eye and facial colour, thoracic pattern and abdominal markings.