The skimmers or perchers and their relatives form the Libellulidae, the largest dragonfly family in the world. It is sometimes considered to contain the Corduliidae as the subfamily Corduliinae and the Macromiidae as the subfamily Macromiinae. Even if these are excluded, there still remains a family of over 1000 species. With nearly worldwide distribution, these are almost certainly the most often seen of all dragonflies.
Libellula quadrimaculata, known in Europe as the four-spotted chaser and in North America as the four-spotted skimmer, is a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae found widely throughout Europe, Asia, and North America.
Pantala flavescens, the globe skimmer, globe wanderer or wandering glider, is a wide-ranging dragonfly of the family Libellulidae. This species and Pantala hymenaea, the "spot-winged glider", are the only members of the genus Pantala. It was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1798. It is considered to be the most widespread dragonfly on the planet with good population on every continent except Antarctica although rare in Europe. Globe skimmers make an annual multigenerational journey of some 18,000 km ; to complete the migration, individual globe skimmers fly more than 6,000 km —one of the farthest known migrations of all insect species.
Libellula is a genus of dragonflies, commonly called skimmers, in the family Libellulidae, distributed throughout the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Most species are found in the United States, where they are the best-known large dragonflies, often seen flying over freshwater ponds in summer. Many have showy wing patterns.
Libellula jesseana, the purple skimmer, is a dragonfly in the skimmer family. It is endemic to Florida in the United States.
The eight-spotted skimmer is a dragonfly of the skimmer family.
The great blue skimmer is a dragonfly of the skimmer family. With a total length of 50 to 63 mm, it is one of the largest skimmers. The immature forms of the skimmer are brown in color and mature forms are blue-hued. This species is found near lakes, ponds, and slow streams in the eastern United States and rarely in southern Ontario.
Neurothemis is a genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae. They are found in India, Asia, Australia and the Pacific region. Most Neurothemis species are red in color.
Paltothemis lineatipes, or red rock skimmer, is a species of skimmers in the family Libellulidae. It is found in the Americas.
Libellula comanche, the Comanche skimmer, is a species of skimmer in the family Libellulidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Leucorrhinia patricia, the Canada whiteface, is a species of skimmer in the family Libellulidae. It is found in North America.
Libellula auripennis, the golden-winged skimmer, is a species of skimmer in the family Libellulidae. It is found in North America.
Tauriphila azteca, the Aztec glider, is a species of skimmer in the dragonfly family Libellulidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Libellula nodisticta, the hoary skimmer, is a species of skimmer in the dragonfly family Libellulidae. It is found in Central America, North America, and South America.
Libellula needhami, or Needham's skimmer, is a species of skimmer in the family of dragonflies known as Libellulidae. It is found in the Caribbean, Central America, and North America.
Orthemis discolor, known generally as the carmine skimmer or orange-bellied skimmer, is a species of skimmer in the dragonfly family Libellulidae.
Libellula composita, the bleached skimmer, is a species of skimmer in the dragonfly family Libellulidae. It is found in North America.
Tholymis citrina, the evening skimmer, is a species of skimmer in the dragonfly family Libellulidae. It is found in the Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, and South America.
Miathyria marcella, the hyacinth glider, is a species of skimmer in the dragonfly family Libellulidae. It is found in the Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, and South America.
Libellula axilena, the bar-winged skimmer, is a species of skimmer in the dragonfly family Libellulidae. It is found in North America.
