Libellula jesseana

Williamson, 1922

Purple Skimmer

Libellula jesseana, the purple skimmer, is a threatened to Florida, United States. measure approximately 5 centimeters in length. The is restricted to infertile, clear, sandy-bottomed lakes with specific shoreline vegetation, and is critically imperiled due to degradation from human development.

Libellula jesseana by (c) Laura Gaudette, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Laura Gaudette. Used under a CC-BY license.

Libellula jesseana by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Libellula jesseana gaudettelaura 19138517 by Laura Gaudette. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Libellula jesseana: //lɪˈbɛl.jʊ.lə ˌd͡ʒɛˈseɪ.ɑː.nə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Males are readily identified by pruinescent blue and combined with orange wings. Females require careful distinction from Libellula auripennis (golden-winged skimmer) when in the golden morph; examination of specific morphological characters or context may be necessary. The ' restricted Florida distribution aids identification.

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Habitat

Occurs at infertile, clear, sandy-bottomed lakes with shoreline stands of maidencane (Panicum hemitomon), sometimes with sedges and St. John's worts. require adjacent open woodland or shrub-land for foraging.

Distribution

to Florida, United States. Restricted to ten counties in the panhandle and northern peninsula. Protected exists at Gold Branch State Park in Clay County; most other populations receive no protection.

Seasonality

fly from mid-April through mid-September. Nymphs over-winter.

Diet

Nymphs feed on nearly all small organisms in their aquatic environment. catch insects located visually.

Life Cycle

lasts approximately one year. Nymphs over-winter and develop in aquatic . are and active from mid-April through mid-September.

Behavior

are . Foraging occurs in adjacent open woodland or shrub-land. Adults catch prey visually in .

Ecological Role

in both aquatic (nymphal) and terrestrial () stages. Nymphs consume small aquatic ; adults capture flying insects.

Human Relevance

Subject to conservation concern due to threatened status. degradation from human growth in Florida poses primary threat. Populations at Gold Branch State Park receive protection.

Similar Taxa

Libellula auripennisFemales of L. jesseana in golden morph are identical in coloration to L. auripennis; careful examination or context required for separation

More Details

Conservation Status

NatureServe conservation status is Critically Imperiled. Long-term trend expectation is a decline of 30-70%. Primary threats include eutrophication from septic tank and fertilizer pollution, groundwater depletion from irrigation, and competition from the common L. auripennis in degraded wetlands.