Great Blue Skimmer Libellula vibrans Fabricius, 1793    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Odonata   >   Family Libellulidae   >   Genus Libellula   

Status:

The largest species of Libellula, the Great Blue Skimmer (Libellula vibrans) is an impressive, colorful dragonfly closely associated with swamps or ponds within forest, or slower sections of swampy creeks, often with a muck bottom (Paulson, 2011). This skimmer is known from all counties in Maryland except Garrett Co. (Richard Orr's The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Maryland and the District of Columbia).

There are 903 records in the project database.

View images at BugGuide

View taxon at iNaturalist

View taxon at NatureServe

Search Google Images

Search MBP Facebook posts (beta | requires login)


[View seasonality details]
GAAL WA FR CL MO HO BA BC HA CE PG AA CV CH SM KE QA CN TA DO WI SO WO 
A worn adult male Great Blue Skimmer in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/1/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Great Blue Skimmer in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/1/2018). Photo by Robert Warren. (MBP list)

A Great Blue Skimmer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/26/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A male Great Blue Skimmer in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/29/2008). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Great Blue Skimmer in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/4/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A male Great Blue Skimmer in Baltimore City, Maryland (6/16/2006). Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

A Great Blue Skimmer in Washington Co., Maryland (6/1/2019). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Great Blue Skimmer in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/6/2020). (c) jasoneavery, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jason Avery. (MBP list)

A Great Blue Skimmer in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/17/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

An adult female Great Blue Skimmer in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/4/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Great Blue Skimmer in Wicomico Co., Maryland (6/4/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A female Great Blue Skimmer in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/18/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Great Blue Skimmer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/20/2018). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Great Blue Skimmer in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (8/14/2022). (c) Jenny Glenn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jenny Glenn via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Great Blue Skimmer in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/16/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

Great Blue Skimmer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/7/2020). (c) Matthew Beziat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Great Blue Skimmer in Caroline Co., Maryland (7/17/2021). (c) Benjamin Schwartz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Benjamin Schwartz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Great Blue Skimmer in Cecil Co., Maryland (8/11/2022). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons. (MBP list)

Great Blue Skimmer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/7/2018). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

Great Blue Skimmer in Baltimore City, Maryland (8/26/2020). (c) Nathaniel Schwartz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND). Photo by Nathaniel Schwartz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Great Blue Skimmer in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/2/2022). (c) Sean Sipple, all rights reserved. Photo by Sean Sipple via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Great Blue Skimmer in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/1/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

Great Blue Skimmers mating in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/14/2016). Photo by Pauline Horn. (MBP list)

A Great Blue Skimmer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/10/2019). Photo by Anthony VanSchoor. (MBP list)

Great Blue Skimmer in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/23/2022). (c) Jason E. Avery, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jason Avery. (MBP list)

A close-up of Great Blue Skimmer eggs in Howard Co., Maryland (6/10/2014). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

Great Blue Skimmer in Charles Co., Maryland (7/5/2021). (c) lizmn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by lizmn via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Great Blue Skimmer in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/15/2021). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

Great Blue Skimmer in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/15/2021). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

Great Blue Skimmer in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/27/2021). (c) path7finder, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by path7finder via iNaturalist. (MBP list)


View All Images

Use of images featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.