Roseate skimmer
Male dragonflies of this species defend territories along open water, showing off a rose pink and red abdomen to rivals and mates alike.
| Where | Ponds, ditches and slow streams |
|---|---|
| Size | 46 to 55 mm body length |
| When | April to December |
The Roseate skimmer is a medium sized dragonfly. Males have a rose pink to red abdomen and a pale lavender-blue thorax, while females show a brownish thorax with a pale stripe and an orange-brown abdomen with clear orange wing veins.
Males defend territories over open water aggressively, including disturbed sites such as ditches and stock tanks, and females lay eggs directly into mud at the water's edge.
Traits
Habitat
Wetland
Colour
Red, Orange
Active
Day
To people
Does not sting or bite; harmless to people.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Also pink to red bodied, but the Neon skimmer is a more uniform bright red across the face, thorax and abdomen, while the Roseate skimmer shows a rosy purple abdomen with a brownish, pale-striped thorax.
Questions
Is the Roseate skimmer dangerous to people?
Does not sting or bite; harmless to people.
When can you see the Roseate skimmer?
The Roseate skimmer can be seen from April to December, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by Seth Wollney, CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist Licence
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Dragonflies and damselflies›Skimmers›Orthemis
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.