Eight-spotted skimmer

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

Eight-spotted skimmer
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Libellulidae
Genus:	Libellula
Species:	L. forensis
Binomial name
Libellula forensis Hagen, 1861 [2]
Range of L. forensis [3]

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.^[4] East of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, some females may also have white spots, making them the only female dragonflies in North America with white spots on the wings.^[5] The total length is 44 to 50 mm. Flight season is April through October.^[4][5]