Male. Taken at Persec, France on June 28th 2010. Click image for larger version.
(1/320th sec at F14. Approx 2.5x life size.)
Side view of male. Taken at Persec, France on June 28th 2010. Click image for larger version.
(1/250th sec at F11. Approx 2.25x life size.)
Female. Taken at Crockford Stream, Hants, on July 15th 2011. Click image for larger version.
(1/100th sec at F11. Approx 1.75x life size.)
Mating wheel. Taken at Crockford Stream, Hants, on July 15th 2011. Click image for larger version.
(1/800th sec at F11. Approx 1.5x life size.)
Closeup of male Keeled Skimmer. Taken at Crockford Stream, Hants, on July 15th 2011.
(1/320th sec at F13. Approx 6x life size.)

© David Hastings

Description

Wing span: 56-66mm; Body length: 36-45mm
 
The Keeled Skimmer is a rather small dragonfly which is characteristic of wet heathland.
 
The abdomen of this species appears quite slim and has a pronounced dorsal keel. The wings have a straw yellow costa and yellow or brown pterostigma. At rest, the wings are often held well forward. The thorax has pale yellow ante-humeral stripes which fade with age in the male. Males have blue-grey eyes and a brown face. Females have a pale, yellowish-brown abdomen with a medial black line.
 
Males have relatively small territories which they defend from low perches. Flights are fast and erratic, with frequent brief spells of hovering. Mating occurs on the ground and can last for 30 minutes or more. Eggs are laid on the wing. The small hairy larvae live in bottom debris and take at least two years to mature. The main flight period is June to August.
 
The Keeled Skimmer is scarce and local in Britian, being found mainly in southern and south-west England, west Wales and west Scotland.

Sightings

16-Jul-2011	:	Wootton Copse, Hants (1m, 6f)
15-Jul-2011	:	Crockford Stream, Hants (5m, 1f)
02-Jul-2011	:	Parsonage Moor, Oxon (3m)
10-Jul-2010	:	Cothill Fen, Oxon
28-Jun-2010	:	Persec, Vienne, France
12-Jun-2010	:	Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon
03-Jun-2009	:	Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon