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neefman East Bridgewater, MA Aug 18, 2016

Is this a male slaty skimmer or a male blue corporal? If it is, what is the best way to tell the difference?

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Aug 18, 2016

The blue corporal usually has dark markings at the bases of its wings, this area is entirely clear on the slaty skimmer. Also, the blue corporal is an early season dragonfly; most sightings have been reported from March through May, with occasional stragglers in June...

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neefman East Bridgewater, MA Aug 18, 2016

Whoops! Forgot to post my pics. So perhaps this is the slaty because there are no dark spots and it's August? maybe it's something else entirely...


This message was edited Aug 18, 2016 9:54 PM

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neefman East Bridgewater, MA Aug 18, 2016

Here is another one...

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Aug 19, 2016

It’s possible that your first specimen is a blue dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) - http://www.cirrusimage.com/Dragon/blue_dasher_08.jpg
The second one does look very much like a slaty skimmer; the eastern pondhawk can appear quite similar, but in that species, you would see a couple of tiny white objects at the tip of its abdomen.
The third one might also be a slaty skimmer, but the image is none to clear…

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