ID Required for Italian Dragonfly (1 Viewer)

[Adey Baker]

Just got back from trip to the Italian Riviera. This darter/skimmer-sized dragonfly was at Diano Marina in a more or less dried-up stream with only a few areas of standing water left where the stream bed was slightly deeper. Steep-sided, so I couldn't get any closer to it, the photos being cropped from telephoto shots.
Can't find anything in my book to match it. Other similar-sized odonata present in small numbers included Keeled and Southern Skimmers, Scarlet Darters and Common Darters (though haven't yet checked all photos of these to see if there might be a similar species to Common)
It was only present on the one occasion on July 4th.
Any suggestions gratefully received!

 

[pdwinter]

I once found an Epaulet Skimmer with bizarre black markings but the symmetry of the markings on this dragonfly is incredible. My only guess is a Keeled Skimmer from its shape but I would have to check through my non-european books when I get back in a few days - to see if there are any african species like this.

 

[Adey Baker]

I once found an Epaulet Skimmer with bizarre black markings but the symmetry of the markings on this dragonfly is incredible. My only guess is a Keeled Skimmer from its shape but I would have to check through my non-european books when I get back in a few days - to see if there are any african species like this.

The long pterostigma certainly fits Keeled and I did wonder whether it might be one 'gone wrong' somewhere as nothing else was anywhere near to it in the fieldguide

 

[ApusApus]

Surely it's an African species as there is nothing in Dijkstra nor Fons Peel's European website that fits!


Shane

 

[Adey Baker]

Surely it's an African species as there is nothing in Dijkstra nor Fons Peel's European website that fits!


Shane

It would be fascinating if it was. I have the Dijkstra book but I didn't pack it with me - I just assumed I'd find what it was when I got back home, so was a bit confused when I couldn't find anything remotely resembling it in the book

 

[pdwinter]

I've looked through the skimmers on the ADDO website and can't find one that matches.

 

[cajanuma]

Wow, what a unique looking bug! Aberrant Keeled Skimmer might be the most logical solution, but I've certainly never seen one looking remotely like this. I have forwared your post to the Italian Dragonflies FB group to see if there are any other comments.

 

[Adey Baker]

Wow, what a unique looking bug! Aberrant Keeled Skimmer might be the most logical solution, but I've certainly never seen one looking remotely like this. I have forwared your post to the Italian Dragonflies FB group to see if there are any other comments.

Many thanks. I will be really interested in any comments from them

 

[cajanuma]

Many thanks. I will be really interested in any comments from them

It does seem to be a Keeled Skimmer, apparently similar individuals have very occasionally been seen, it is probably a problem with pruinosity

 

[Adey Baker]

For the record, thanks to Google street view, this is the location, where the 'natural' stream becomes a 'channelled' culvert. Via Ponte Romano, Diano Marina.

 

[pdwinter]

Here are a couple of pics of the odd Epaulet Skimmer I saw in 2015. Lucky enough in the field to see it for a long time and get a lot of photos from different angles.