The Globe Skimmer

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.

The Dragonfly is up to 4.5 cm long, reaching wing spans between 7.2 cm and 8.4 cm. The front side of the head is yellowish to reddish. The thorax is usually yellow to golden colored with a dark line and hairy. There were also specimens with brown or olive thorax. The abdomen has a similar color as the thorax.

The wings are clear and very broad at the base. Here, too, there are some specimens with olive, brown and yellow wings. On Easter Island there are Wandering Gliders with black wings.

The Pterostigma turns yellowish. The transparent wings may turn a yellowish shade towards the tip. The chestnut-red eyes take up most of the head, as is usual in the large dragonflies (Anisoptera).