Orthetrum nitidinerve, also known as Orthetrum baeticum, is a freshwater Mediterranean dragonfly species.Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 15 January 2014. The common name for this species is Yellow-Veined Skimmer.Checklist, "English common names" DragonflyPix.com. Retrieved 15 January 2014. Its natural egg clutches count for an average of 970.R. Khelifaa, R. Zebsaa, A. Kahalerrasa & H. Mahdjouba, "Clutch size and egg production in Orthetrum nitidinerve", 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
Description It has a wingspan of 8–9 cm. The wings have a yellow longitudinal vein that extends from the base of the wing to the nodus and from which numerous yellow transverse veins extend. The yellow-gold wing mark (pterostigma) is 4–5 mm long, but is significantly smaller in other Orthetrum species (approx. 3 mm). The body of the males is blue.
Distribution The Yellow-Veined Skimmer is very common in North Africa, but in Europe the species only occurs on the Iberian Peninsula, on Sardinia, near Naples and on Sicily. It inhabits waters up to an altitude of 2000 m.
See also Orthetrum
References