Insect or Alien? This Close-Up Look At Common Bugs Captures them in a Mesmerizing Lens

Red-Tailed Skimmer

Brachymesia furcata, or the red-tailed skimmer, is a type of dragonfly. It belongs to the largest species of dragonflies in the world—libellulidae. You’ll find this exotic beauty around semi-aquatic habitats in places such as the Caribbean, Mexico, the Americas, Puerto Rico, and Argentina. 

They are called skimmers because they are known to hover over the surface of lakes and ponds, perch on reeds close to water bodies, and even lay their eggs on submerged plants or in the water, depending on the conditions. These beautiful skimmers can be rare to spot, but there are myths that they tend to appear to people surrounding episodes of tragic loss or death.