Filigree skimmer
Pseudoleon superbus
The filigree skimmer is a dragonfly with wings covered in dark lacy patterns. The pattern looks like filigree, a kind of fine twisted metal jewellery. The males get darker wings as they grow up.
Lives in
From the southwestern United States to Costa Rica, at ponds and streams
Length
3.4 to 4.5 cm (1.3 to 1.8 in)
Can it hurt you?
Harmless
Harmless. Dragonflies do not sting.
What does it eat?
Like other dragonflies, it catches small flying insects.
How big is it?
How long is it?
🍚as long as 8 grains of rice in a row⚽could fly across a whole football pitch in 11 seconds⚡moves 220 times its own body length every second
How big is Filigree skimmer compared to YOU?
Just maths in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
How fast is it?
A kid running fast about 13 km/h (8.1 mph)
A grown-up on a bike about 25 km/h (16 mph)
Filigree skimmer about 35 km/h (22 mph)
A car driving in town about 50 km/h (31 mph)
cool stuff
Fun facts
1
It is the only species in its group, Pseudoleon.
2
Its body is tan when young and gets darker with age.
3
Males defend their spot and have fights with rivals in midair.
4
Its tail often has V-shaped markings.
you asked
Most asked questions about Filigree skimmer
?Why is it called the filigree skimmer?
Because the dark patterns on its wings look like fine filigree jewellery.
?Where does the filigree skimmer live?
From the southwestern United States to Costa Rica, at ponds and streams.
For bug experts
- Scientific name
- Pseudoleon superbus
- Named by
- Hagen, 1861
- Group
- Dragonflies and damselflies
- Family
- Libellulidae
- Classification
- Insecta > Odonata > Libellulidae
- Lives on
- North America
Where the facts come from
- Pseudoleon (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0): what it looks like, where it lives, what it eats, sizes and fun facts, retold in simple words.
- Picture by Carlos Valenzuela Montuy. CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons. The sticker of this bug is drawn from this picture.
If we got something wrong, sorry, we are bug fans, not a science journal. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
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