Purple Dragonfly or Skimmer (Libellula jesseana)... will this be the First Documented Case in the Hillsborough County?

Story

Photographing Dragonflies is not that easy of a thing if you plan on chasing them along a pond river bank, but once you understand that if they like a certain spot will keep coming back to it, you learn to stay put and wait for them to come back. The contrast of the purple/violet color of this dragonfly is absolutely impressive, and makes it standout from its surroundings. After a little search, I found that the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (U.S. Geological Survey) doesn't have a recollection (Odonata information as they call it, because the class this species is in) of this insect being spotted in the Hillsborough County (TampaBay area). After finishing this posting I will submit it to them to see if they will take my account as an "Unconfirmed or dubious record" or as a "Confirmed record". A little more information about this colorful insect can be found in the Florida Entomological Society webpage. They state that the fastest dragonfly can fly as fast as 38 miles an hour... That could possibly land it a speeding ticket with the local police in this area since the closest road's speed limit is 35 mph.

Date of sighting

17 Sep 2006

Location

Tampa, FL 33647
Purple Skimmer (Libellula  jesseana)

Species

Libellula jesseana