Golden-winged Skimmer (Libellula auripennis)

Males become rich red-orange colored.

Female. Note many females develop dusky wingtips.

The most diagnostic feature distinguishing Golden-winged Skimmer from Needham's Skimmer is the pattern of the color change on the side of the thorax. In Golden-winged, as shown here, the color change follows the humeral suture. In Needham's Skimmer, the pale color juts forward toward the head over the lower portion of the suture line

Note leading edge of wing is all golden (usually partly black in Needham's).

Note the majority of the wing veins are orangish.