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Wandering Glider

Pantala flavescens

Summary 2

Pantala flavescens, the Globe Skimmer or Wandering Glider, is a wide-ranging dragonfly of the family Libellulidae. This species and Pantala hymenaea, the "Spot-winged Glider", are the only members of the genus Pantala from the subfamily Pantalinae. It was first described by Fabricius in 1798. It is considered to be the most widespread dragonfly on the planet.

General description 3

Pantala flavescens, or wandering glider, is a cosmopolitan dragonfly present on every continent but Antarctica. This ubiquitous dragonfly is common in most dragonfly collections. Medium sized, it's easily recognized by its colouration and the trapezoidal shape of its pterostigma.

Diagnostic description 4

The hind wing has a large anal vein expansion at the base of the wing. Eyes are greyish in colour and females have yellow coloured abdomens. Pterostigmata have trapezoidal shape. Larvae have long lateral spines on the ninth abdominal segment. Setae are present on the larval palpal teeth. The teeth are prominent. Larval wing pads are parallel, and there are no dorsal hooks present on S4-S8. Larval eyes are located above the occiput.

Ecology 5

These dragonflies have been found in unique places, often at bizarre, unpredictable times. There are reports of sudden swarms arriving on Easter Island (Corbet, pers. comm.) or of specimens landing on cruie ships in the middle of the ocean. These dragonflies presumably are moved around quite a bit by the wind, but they are also considered to be strong fliers. They are one of a few "migratory" dragonflies.

General description 6

Pantala flavescens, or wandering glider, is a cosmopolitan dragonfly present on every continent but Antarctica. This ubiquitous dragonfly is common in most dragonfly collections. Medium sized, it's easily recognized by its colouration and the trapezoidal shape of its pterostigma.

Habitat and ecology 7

Habitat and Ecology

The species is an obligate migrant that is linked to the monsoon front of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). It used commonly temporary pools and ponds watered by monsoon rainfalls but may occasionally breed in permanent water.

Systems
  • Terrestrial
  • Freshwater

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Kim Dae Ho, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Kim Dae Ho
  2. Adapted by Allie Hay from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantala_flavescens
  3. Adapted by Allie Hay from a work by (c) Ware, Jessica, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/11004994
  4. (c) Ware, Jessica, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/11004995
  5. (c) Ware, Jessica, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/11004996
  6. (c) Ware, Jessica, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/11004994
  7. (c) International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31183756

More Info

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(c) Discover Life and original sources, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)

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