SCIENTIFIC NAME: ORTHETRUM COERULESCENS
VERNACULAR NAME: KEELED SKIMMER

Fig 1
ADULT Wingspan - 60mm.  Approximate overall length - 42mm.  Teneral males are similar to mature females with yellowish-brown abdomens which have a dark median line running the full extent of the dorsal surface.  Immatures have dark sides to the abdomen and largish amber patches towards the wing bases.  The male has powdery-blue abdomen.  Both sexes have pale thoracic stripes and yellow pterostigma.   
LARVA 16-25mm when fully grown.  Territorial.  Located in underwater vegetation.  Hairy.
BEHAVIOUR Males are very territorial and fly low and erratically over their chosen area.  Females usually frequent long grassy areas and never fly far at any one time.
HABITAT Inhabits sphagnum bogs and watery areas associated with acidic wet heathland.
FLIGHT PERIOD June to September.
STATUS Increasing in Southern Britain.  Localised in Ireland, northern England and western Scotland.

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