Pied skimmer
Males of this black dragonfly develop a bright white band across the base of the abdomen that looks like an empty gap in the body.
| Where | Reed marshes across Japan and Asia |
|---|---|
| Size | 40 to 50 mm body length |
| When | May to August |
This is a glossy black dragonfly with a pale band across the base of the abdomen that appears white in males and a duller cream in females, giving the body an interrupted look. Wings are clear with a dark patch at the base.
Adults patrol over ponds and reed-fringed marshes with abundant aquatic plants, and males defend a stretch of open water rather than a fixed perch. It is on the wing chiefly in the warmer months across Japan and adjacent parts of East Asia.
Traits
Habitat
Wetland
Colour
Black, White
Active
Day
To people
Harmless to people; adults patrol open water and rarely come within reach.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Mature male Orthetrum albistylum are powdery pale blue-grey over the whole body, while Pseudothemis zonata is glossy black with a single bright white or pale cream band across the base of the abdomen.
Questions
Is the Pied skimmer dangerous to people?
Harmless to people; adults patrol open water and rarely come within reach.
When can you see the Pied skimmer?
The Pied skimmer can be seen from May to August, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by Zinogre, CC BY‑SA 4.0, iNaturalist Licence
The plate on this page is shared under the same licence as its source, CC BY-SA.
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Dragonflies and damselflies›Skimmers›Pseudothemis
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.