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.
Subspecies There are two known subspecies: Crocothemis servilia servilia (Drury, 1773) and Crocothemis servilia mariannae Kiauta, 1983. C. s. mariannae lacks the mid-dorsal black stripe.
Description and habitat It is a medium sized dragonfly. The male is blood-red, with a thin black line along the mid-dorsal abdomen in the nominate subspecies. Its eyes are blood-red above, purple laterally. Thorax is bright ferruginous, often blood-red on dorsum. 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.
Gallery
See also List of odonates of Sri Lanka List of odonates of India List of odonata of Kerala
References
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)