Eight-spotted skimmer

The eight-spotted skimmer (Libellula forensis) is a dragonfly of the skimmer family.

Eight-spotted skimmer
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Odonata
Suborder:
Anisoptera
Family:
Libellulidae
Genus:
Libellula
Species:
L. forensis
Binomial name
Libellula forensis
Hagen, 1861 [1]
Range of L. forensis [2]

Description

This dragonfly features the standard skimmer body form, and earns its name from the eight black markings on the wings. It is similar to the twelve-spotted skimmer, but lacks the black markings on the wing tips of that species. Males are additionally adorned with a total of eight opaque white spots. It can be found west of the Rocky Mountains near muddy bottomed ponds and lakes.[3] East of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, some females may also have white spots, making them the only female dragonflies in North American with white spots on the wings.[4] The total length is 44 to 50 mm. Flight season is April through October.[3][4]

References
  1. "Libellula forensis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  2. "Distribution Viewer". OdonataCentral. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  3. Abbott, John C. (2005). Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas and the South-Central United States. Princeton University Press. p. 271. ISBN 0-691-11364-5.
  4. Dunkle, Sidney W. (2000). Dragonflies Through Binoculars. Oxford University Press. pp. 297–298. ISBN 0-19-511268-7.

Media related to Libellula forensis at Wikimedia Commons


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