Red Rock Skimmer

Red Rock Skimmer

Paltothemis lineatipes

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at San Diego

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%

18 Verified sightings at San Diego
98 In all 5 parks From 2019 to 2026
September Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Red Rock Skimmer

Paltothemis lineatipes, commonly known as the red rock skimmer, is a species of skimmer in the family Libellulidae. It is found in the Americas. Paltothemis lineatipes is considered to be least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The population is stable. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
2 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
3 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
4 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
5 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Los Angeles 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
2 Monterrey 🇲🇽 México
<5%
3 San Diego 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Red Rock Skimmer in San Diego?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Red Rock Skimmer sighting in San Diego on a given day, based on 18 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 328th most-seen of the 693 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Red Rock Skimmer in San Diego?

Any time of year

In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Red Rock Skimmer in San Diego on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.

What time of day is best to see a Red Rock Skimmer?

Between 9 am and noon

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

Is San Diego the best place to see a Red Rock Skimmer?

Among the best

Of the 3 cities where we can rate Red Rock Skimmer sightings, San Diego ranks 3rd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Los Angeles (United States, under 5%) and Monterrey (México, under 5%).

Which relatives of the Red Rock Skimmer live in San Diego?

Same family: Libellulidae

The closest relatives of the Red Rock Skimmer that you can see in San Diego (family Libellulidae, Skimmers) are Flame Skimmer (about 10%), Blue Dasher (about 10%) and Neon Skimmer (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Red Rock Skimmer sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Red Rock Skimmer is recorded against all the insects logged in San Diego (18 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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