Orthetrum brunneum

Orthetrum brunneum, the southern skimmer, is a species of 'skimmers' belonging to the family Libellulidae. Subspecies include: This 'skimmer' is present in most of Europe and the range extends to Mongolia and North Africa. It occurs in Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Portuga, Romania, Russia, Serbia; Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine. This species mainly prefers small streams, canals and ditches, with shallow, fast warming water. The adults grow up to 40–45 millimetres (1.6–1.8 in) long. Their dimensions on average are larger than in Orthetrum coerulescens. The thorax and the abdomen are pale blue in males, yellowish-brown or greyish-brown in females. Young males are brownish. The abdomen is relatively flattened and shows a thin middorsal black line and distinct points on each segment. The wings are hyaline, with yellow or pale brown pterostigma. The wingspan reaches 66–70 millimetres (2.6–2.8 in).