Observaciones de inbal15

Wings usually held outstretched horizontally at rest. Hindwing is broader at base than the forewing.

Most skimmers are small to medium-sized dragonflies. Some skimmers are very colorful, and some species have patterned wings. Most species of skimmers are perchers, except for the gliders and saddlebags. The abdomen of a skimmer can be thick or slender.

Anal loop of hindwing long, with midrib. Anal loop of hind wing boot-shaped, with a distinct toe.

Many tachinids are similar in general appearance to muscids and flesh flies; many are large, bristly, and beelike or wasplike in appearance. Presence of a subscutellum.

Subscutellum distinctly and evenly bulging. Usually very bristly, but
one subfamily barebodied. Very diverse.

Abdomen long and stalked (petiolate), giving the body a "thread-waisted" appearance; middle tibiae with two apical spurs; body may be all black (sometimes tinged with metallic blue or green), black and red, yellow and black, or white and black.

Adult: body delicate or "flimsy", varying from almost transparent to white, yellow, orange, green, brown, or black; thorax and abdomen bare, often shiny; legs slender, solid color; front legs often held forward and sometimes upward in front of head when at rest; forewings large, triangular, with many cross veins; hindwings much smaller than forewings (hindwings absent in some species); both wings usually transparent but sometimes patterned, held vertically and together above thorax when at rest.

The unique characteristic of mirids is special setae ('trichobothria') on middle and hind femora

Other useful features:

• lack of small, simple eyes called ocelli.
• presence of a cuneus (a hind section of the thickened anterior part of the front wing, set off from it by a crease)
• 2 closed cells in the fore wing membrane
• antennae mostly long and thin
• legs slender, delicate