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Keeled skimmer dragonfly with blue abdomen perched on a twig, wings spread against a blurred green background

Keeled Skimmer

It's 19:03 Clear sky, 19°C
Keeled skimmer dragonfly with blue abdomen perched on a twig, wings spread against a blurred green background

Keeled Skimmers

The Keeled Skimmer is one of the most widespread dragonflies in the New Forest.

It is commonly seen around bogs, streams, and heathland pools. Males are distinctive with their powdery blue bodies, often perched low on vegetation near water.

This species is well adapted to the Forest’s acidic wetlands, where it breeds in shallow, slow-flowing water.

Its abundance across the New Forest makes it a familiar and important part of the area’s rich dragonfly community, and a good indicator of healthy wetland habitats.