Bug FAQOrange Skimmer
Orthetrum testaceum · Order: Odonata · Family: Libellulidae
Also called: Scarlet Skimmer
The orange skimmer dragonfly is about 43 to 48 mm long, with hindwings 34 to 38 mm long (males). Males have an orange-brown thorax, a vermilion red abdomen, light brownish eyes, and smoky transparent wings with an amber base patch. It lives near standing water such as ponds, drains, marshes, rivers, streams, lakes and gardens across India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adult males show an orange-brown thorax, a bright red abdomen, light brownish eyes, and smoky transparent wings with an amber patch at the base.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They are found near any standing water, including ponds, drains, marshes, rivers, streams, lakes and garden water features.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Males regularly perch near ponds, while females visit water mainly during mating and egg-laying season.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
This species is common throughout India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What does the orange skimmer look like?
Males have an orange-brown thorax, a bright red abdomen, light brownish eyes, and smoky transparent wings with an amber base patch; they are about 43 to 48 mm long.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find orange skimmers?
They live near standing water such as ponds, drains, marshes, rivers, streams, lakes and garden water features in South and Southeast Asia.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Libellulidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthetrum_testaceum
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.