Wandering Glider

Pantala flavescens, the globe skimmer, globe wanderer 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. It was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1798. It is considered to be the most widespread dragonfly on the planet, with good populations on every continent except Antarctica, although rare in Europe. Globe skimmers make an annual multigenerational journey of some 18,000 km ; to complete the migration, individual globe skimmers fly more than 6,000 km ; one of the farthest known migrations of all insect species. Scientific Name: Pantala flavescens Range: Most widespread dragonfly in the world Size: Body 4.5–5 cm Status: Common ID Notes: Yellow-orange body, broad hindwings adapted for soaring. Males more vividly colored than females. Behavior / Notes: Makes the longest insect migration — up to 18,000 km round-trip across the Indian Ocean. Glides effortlessly and feeds in mid-air.