The flame skimmer or firecracker skimmer is a common dragonfly of the family Libellulidae, the largest dragonfly family which are native to western North America.

Dragonflies are carnivorous insects and survivors from an ancient past during which time those dragonflies were huge with wingspans of several feet wide. Today′s dragonflies are smaller, but still have some of the prehistoric characteristics that make them living fossils.

Dragonflies have several notable characteristics. First they have relatively large heads, equipped with large, compound eyes. In fact, dragonfly vision is among the best in the world. Dragonflies also have two sets of elongated wings, which allow them to maneuver in flight in astounding ways.

Potential Species of Concern are native taxa for which current, often limited, information suggests potential vulnerability in some state area. Also included are animal species which additional data are needed before an accurate status assessment can be made.

Male flame skimmers are known for their entirely orange or red body, this includes eyes, legs, and even wing veins. Females are usually a medium or darker brown with some thin, yellow markings. The flame skimmer varies in size but generally measures between two and three inches long.

The aquatic larva or nymph of a dragonfly, called naiads, are known for being rather large and chubby-looking due to their rounded abdomen. The niaids are covered with hair but, unlike most young dragonflies, they lack hooks or spines.

This flame skimmer generally occupies habitat in and around warm to hot springs or the ponds associated with them.

Still, flame skimmers select a broad range of habitat choices including lakes, ponds, ditches, pools, slow streams and stream pools, as well as hot springs in the north and higher altitudes.

The Flame Skimmer is found across the western United States with its eastern most extent in Missouri and Kansas and includes the states of: AZ, CA, CO, ID, KS, MO, MT, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WY.

In Montana it is found mostly in the western part of the state except in the east where warm springs habitats are present.

They also can be seen in public gardens and backyards.

At first sight of light, I arise and walk in to the inn to comb my hair and brush my teeth. Then, I walk out to the geyser, sit on the bench and wait for the show, which according to the display inside is six-fifty am, plus or minus ten minutes. There is a small group of viewers from Japan, Ohio, Colorado, two from France and others. While we wait, we talk about how the geyser erupts, first a burp or two, then soon after it blows, but also, that there could be other eruptions in the valley to the east and north. At seven am, it burps once and quickly following, it climbs to just over fifty feet. As Old Faithful is coming to a rest, the sun peaks over the mountains in the east, at four minutes after seven.

At noon, I pack out to the jammer for lunch and then to drive to Midway Basin for some photos of the Grand Prismatic Spring. I approach the spring from the river, cross the bridge and walk on the wooden trail to the springs and see a Flame Skimmer and stop to take photos.