The Slaty Skimmer is a medium sized Skimmer that gets its common name from the slaty blue-grey color of the pruinose that covers most of the males body at maturity. Slaty Skimmers have not been found in Minnesota but they are found in eastern Wisconsin
Males typically perch on sun lit vegetation near the water. They are territorial and will chase other males away. Females usually stay away from the water until they are ready to mate
Marshy lakes and ponds, bog ponds, swamps, and slow moving mucky streams,
Mating is quick, usually under a minute. Female lays eggs by hovering low over the water then dropping down to strike the surface several times, splashing the eggs off her abdomen. Males will sometimes guard egg laying females by hovering over them and chasing away any other males
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Range maps and checklists courtesy of Odonata Central. Copyright © 2016 OdonataCentral. All Rights Reserved. Abbott, J.C. 2006-2018. OdonataCentral: An online resource for the distribution and identification of Odonata. Available at www.odonatacentral.org.