Roseate Skimmer Orthemis ferruginea
(c) Michael D Fox, some rights reserved (CC BY)
OrderDragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata)
FamilySkimmers (Libellulidae)
GenusTropical King Skimmers (Orthemis)
This rosy-pink dragonfly is so successful in its native range that it's become an invasive species in Hawaii. Native to the Americas from the United States all the way to Brazil, the roseate skimmer thrives in warm, sunny wetlands. Its incredible adaptability—both to varied climates and new islands—makes it one of the more widely distributed dragonflies, though that success comes with ecological consequences in places it doesn't belong.
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