Harv meant to send to chatline
From: Perkins,
Harvey [
Sent: Thursday, 5 January 2017 3:11 PM
To: 'Geoffrey Dabb'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Return of the Dragon [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]
Now, Geoff, if you’d asked “Can this be a F & M?” I’d be able to agree with you.
But yes, they are both Blue Skimmers
Orthetrum caledonicum. The one on the left looks like a reasonably newly-emerged female, the one on the right is a mature male.
Both Males and females start off being the yellowish-brown colour when they first emerge, but the males progressively develop the powdery-blue ‘pruinescence’ as they mature. Just to make it a bit trickier, some
females also occasionally develop the pruinescence. One way to tell them apart (visible in these photos) is the shape/length/position of the cerci or anal appendages.
Nice pics!
Harvey
Dr Harvey Perkins
CRC Programme Operations
AusIndustry – Business Services
Phone
+61 2 6213 7472
Internet:
business.gov.au
From: Geoffrey Dabb
Sent: Thursday, 5 January 2017 1:45 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Return of the Dragon
Can this be a M & F? Smallish dflies, about same size, in woodland near Shepherd’s Lookout:
