Orange Skimmer

Orange Skimmer

Orthetrum testaceum

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
at Jakarta

In 3 days ~70% in a week >90%

137 Verified sightings at Jakarta
289 In all 10 parks From 2019 to 2026
August Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Orange Skimmer

Orthetrum testaceum, common names Crimson Dropwing or Orange Skimmer is an Asian freshwater dragonfly species belonging to the family Libellulidae. This common species is widespread throughout India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. These dragonflies may occur in various areas with standing waters, as in ponds, drains, marshes, around rivers, streams, lakes, and gardens.

Orthetrum testaceum can reach a body length of about 43–48 mm (1.7–1.9 in), with a hindwing of 34–38 mm (1.3–1.5 in) (in males). In these large dragonflies the thorax of adult males is orange-brown, with a vermilion red abdomen. The eyes are light brownish. The wings are smoky transparent, with an amber patch at the base. In adult females and in recently emerged males the body is olive-green to brown in colour with black markings and a clear base of the hindwings.

These dragonflies are rather similar to Orthetrum chrysis, but O. testaceum is more reddish, while O. chrysis has a reddish brown thorax. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Bako National Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~40%
2 Danum Valley Conservation Area 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~40%
3 Gunung Leuser National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~30%
4 Sepilok 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~30%
5 Kinabalu Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~30%
6 Kerinci Seblat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~30%
7 Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~20%
8 Taman Negara National Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~20%
9 Khao Sok National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
~20%
10 Kaeng Krachan National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
~20%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Jakarta 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~40%
2 Yogyakarta 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~30%
3 Kuching 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~20%
4 Kuala Lumpur 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~20%
5 Johor Bahru 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~20%
6 Bandung 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~20%
7 Singapore 🇸🇬 Singapore
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an Orange Skimmer in Jakarta?

Likely

About 40% of wildlife watchers report an Orange Skimmer sighting in Jakarta on a given day, based on 137 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 6th most-seen of the 239 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 70%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see an Orange Skimmer in Jakarta?

February, April–August and December

In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report an Orange Skimmer in Jakarta on a given day, against about 20% in September and October, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see an Orange Skimmer?

Between 10 am and 1 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Orange Skimmer sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Jakarta the best place to see an Orange Skimmer?

Yes

Of the 7 cities where we can rate Orange Skimmer sightings, Jakarta has the highest daily chance: about 40%. Next come Yogyakarta (Indonesia, about 30%) and Kuching (Malaysia, about 20%).

Where does the Orange Skimmer sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Orange Skimmer is recorded against all the insects logged in Jakarta (137 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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