Green Lestes vs Slaty Skimmer

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Green Lestes Slaty Skimmer
Scientific Name Lestes viridis Libellula incesta
Order Odonata Odonata
Family Lestidae Libellulidae
Size 39-48 mm body length 45-52 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Ponds & Lakes
Diet Predators Omnivores
Regions Europe North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Green Lestes

A metallic green damselfly that lays eggs into the bark of overhanging trees. Creates distinctive oviposition scars on willow branches. One of the latest damselflies to fly.

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Did You Know?

Uniquely among damselflies, it lays its eggs into tree bark above water rather than into aquatic plants.

Slaty Skimmer

A dark, slate-blue dragonfly of eastern North America. Mature males are uniformly dark blue-black, making them distinctive at ponds.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few North American dragonflies where males are almost entirely dark blue-black.