Insects · La Saladita, Guerrero

Wandering Glider

Pantala flavescens

Spanish: Libélula errante

Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens)
Photographed by zihuadean on iNaturalist · CC-BY-NC

Pantala flavescens, the globe skimmer, globe wanderer 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 with good population on every continent except Antarctica although rare in Europe. Most often recorded in Nov, Jan, Oct, Sep.

TaxonomyInsecta › Odonata › Libellulidae
Local records5 research-grade observations within about 50 km of La Saladita (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones)
Global records32,243 on iNaturalist
Recorded here2019 – 2025
Months recorded near La Saladita
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Recent local sightings

Interactive card with more photos, sounds and similar species Insects guide iNaturalist Wikipedia

Cite as: “Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/pantala-flavescens/, updated 2026-09-26. Observation counts and months come from iNaturalist research-grade records within about 50 km of 17.8375°N, 101.7606°W (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones); summary text from Wikipedia where present.