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Flame Skimmer - Libellula saturata
State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
The Flame Skimmer dragonfly is currently listed as an "S2S4" species of concern in Montana because they are potentially at risk because of limited and/or declining numbers, range and/or habitat, even though it may be abundant in some areas.
General Description
This striking red dragonfly generally occupies habitat in and around warm to hot springs or the ponds associated with them.
Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Native
Range Comments
The Flame Skimmer is found across the western U.S with its eastern most extent in Missouri and Kansas: AZ, CA, CO, ID, KS, MO, MT, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WY. In Montana it is found mostly in the western part of the state except in the east where warm springs habitats are present.
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 100
(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version)
Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Habitat
Flame Skimmers select a broad range of habitat choices including lakes, ponds, ditches, pools, slow streams and stream pools, as well as hot springs in the north and high altitudes (Dunkle 2000, Nikula et al. 2002, Paulson 2009).
National Vegetation Classification System Groups Associated with this Species
Wetland and Riparian
Alkaline - Saline Wetlands
Peatland
Riparian and Wetland Forest
Riparian Shrubland
Wet Meadow and Marsh
Food Habits
Larvae feed on a wide variety of aquatic insects, such as mosquito larvae, other aquatic fly larvae, mayfly larvae, and freshwater shrimp. They will also eat very small fish and tadpoles.
Adult- The dragonfly will eat almost any soft-bodied flying insect including mosquitoes, flies, small moths, mayflies, and flying ants or termites.
Reproductive Characteristics
Male Flame Skimmers make frequent longs patrols early in day and then tend to remain near preferred perches later in the day. They are are territorial, but these territories change daily. Competing males engage in lengthy parallel flight displays before "winner" claims a prized perch. Copulation is completed in flight and is quite brief. Females oviposit by flicking water drops with eggs inside them forward into the water or the moist shoreline (Dunkle 2000, Nikula et al. 2002, Paulson 2009).
Stewardship Responsibility
References
- Literature Cited AboveLegend:
View Online Publication
Nikula, B., J. Sones, D.W. Stokes, and L.Q. Stokes. 2002. Stokes beginner's guide to dragonflies and damselflies. Boston: Little, Brown. 159 pp.
- Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?- Dunkle, S.W. 2000. Dragonflies through binoculars: A field guide to dragonflies of North America. New York, NY. Oxford University Press. 266 pp.
- Nelson, Howard E. 1953. The summer dragonflies of Flathead Valley, Montana. M.A. Thesis. University of Montana. Missoula, MT.
- Paulson, D.R. 2009. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West. Princeton University Press, Princeton. 535 pp.
- Web Search Engines for Articles on "Flame Skimmer"
- Additional Sources of Information Related to "Insects"
