Black-tailed skimmer

The black-tailed skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) belongs to the order Odonata and the family Libellulidae. In the context of agronomy, it is misidentified as a pest by those unfamiliar with entomology; in reality, it is a highly beneficial predator that serves as a natural regulator of insect pest populations within agricultural ecosystems.

The biology of this species is characterized by an aquatic larval stage and a highly mobile adult phase. Adults are large, agile predators that consume a wide variety of small flying insects. Their lifecycle is tied to bodies of water, where they serve as top predators in the aquatic food chain before emerging as aerial hunters.

The impact of these insects on crop health is purely positive. By preying on flies, mosquitoes, and small agricultural moths, they act as a biological control agent. This natural predation helps maintain the balance of the agroecosystem, preventing the rapid escalation of pest populations that could otherwise damage leaves or stems of cultivated crops.

There is zero economic damage associated with this species. They do not consume plant tissues, nor do they oviposit into crops. As non-phytophagous insects, they pose no threat to the commercial value of agricultural produce. Therefore, they should be encouraged rather than managed as a target for pest control.

Management strategies focus on habitat conservation and ecological support:

• Protection of freshwater bodies and their margins, which are critical for larval development.
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices that reduce the use of broad-spectrum insecticides harmful to non-target predators.
• Planting native vegetation buffers near water sources to enhance prey availability and nesting conditions.