Blue Skimmer Dragonfly - Orthetrum caledonicum Card
Australian native insect
Reproduced from an original watercolour painting by Cheryl Hodges
Greeting card 10 x 15cm, blank inside with white envelope
Text on reverse of card reads:
The Blue Skimmer is a common dragonfly in Australia. The male is powdery blue and the female is yellow or brownish. Dragonflies are predators, both in their larval stage in water and as adults. They can pursue insects at high speeds with their two uncoupled pairs of wings. Fossils of dragonfly ancestors have been found from 325 million years ago, with wing spans of up to 70cm. Loss of wetland habitat threatens dragonfly populations around the world. Dragonflies are indicator species of the health of their environment. As they spend most of their lives underwater, their presence indicates water quality due to dragonflies requiring clean water to thrive.