Scarlet skimmer explained

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.^[1]

Subspecies

There are two known subspecies; Crocothemis servilia servilia (Drury, 1773)^[2] and Crocothemis servilia mariannae Kiauta, 1983.^[3] C. s. mariannae lacks the mid-dorsal black stripe.^[4]

Description and habitat

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.

It breeds in ponds, ditches, marshes, open swamps and rice fields.^{[5] [6] [7] [8] [9]}

See also

• List of odonates of Sri Lanka
• List of odonates of India
• List of odonata of Kerala

External links

• • Chen et al (2009) Common edible insects and their utilization in China. Entomological Research 39:299-303
• Ying et al (2001) Three edible odonata species and their nutritive value. Forest Research 14:421-424
• Scarlet skimmer at USGS
• Insects as food in China Chen et al (2009)
• Nutritive value Ying et al (2001)

Notes and References

1. Book: K.A. . Subramanian . K.G. . Emiliyamma . R. . Babu . C. . Radhakrishnan . S.S. . Talmale . Atlas of Odonata (Insecta) of the Western Ghats, India . 2018 . Zoological Survey of India . 9788181714954. 316–317.
2. Web site: Crocothemis servilia Drury, 1773. 17 August 2015. gbif.org.
3. Web site: Crocothemis servilia mariannae Kiauta. 17 August 2015. gbif.org.
4. Kiauta . B. . The status of the Japanese Crocothemis servilia. (Drury) as revealed by karyotypic morphology (Anisoptera: Libellulidae) . Odonatologica . 1983 . 12 . 4 . 381–288 . 31 October 2018.
5. Book: C FC Lt. Fraser. Frederic Charles Fraser. The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, Odonata Vol. III. Taylor and Francis. Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, London. 1936. 345–347.
6. Book: C FC Lt. Fraser. Frederic Charles Fraser. A Survey of the Odonate (Dragonfly) Fauna of Western India and Descriptions of Thirty New Species. 1924. 437.
7. Book: Subramanian, K. A.. Dragonflies and Damselflies of Peninsular India - A Field Guide. 2005.
8. Web site: Crocothemis servilia Drury, 1773. India Biodiversity Portal. 2017-03-18.
9. Web site: Crocothemis servilia Drury, 1773. Odonata of India, v. 1.00. Indian Foundation for Butterflies. 2017-03-18.