The Globe Skimmer Dragonfly (Pantala flavescens) is an insect in the Libellulidae family of dragonflies. It is also known as the Globe Wanderer or the Wandering Glider.
The Globe Skimmer has a long, cylindrical body, two pairs of translucent wings, and a head with large eyes. The adult male has a reddish-yellow abdomen and the female has a yellow abdomen. It has a yellowish head. Its legs are black.
It grows to about 5 centimetres (2 inches) with a wingspan of 7-8 centimetres (3 inches).
It is widespread across the globe. It is a migratory dragonfly. It prefers to live near still or slow-moving ponds and marshes.
The Globe Skimmer Dragonfly eats insects.
The female releases her eggs when she is in the air over a pond, and they fall into the water. The eggs develop over the next few weeks. The eggs hatch into larvae. Over two months, the larvae grow and become adult dragonflies. This is called metamorphosis (transformation).
Location of photograph: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM