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Painted Skimmer, NOT Twelve Spot Skimmer

Posted by July 4th, 2005 at 12:00 am

Categories

Dragonflies and Damselflies

Another Dragonfly
Hi,
Can you help identify this Dragonfly?
Christian

Hi Christian,
This is a female Twelve Spot Skimmer, Libellula pulchella. The male has whitish areas between spots and the females wings are clear between spots. It ranges over most of the U.S. and often rests on lily pads and vegetation overhanging the water.

Update (01/29/2006)
odonata
Hi, my name is Larry Hamrin. While researching dragonflies, I came across your site. I don’t consider myself an expert at identifying dragonflies, but I would like to comment on some of the dragonflies on your website. There is a dragonfly you identify as a 12 spotted skimmer. This does not look like any 12 spot I’ve ever seen, or can find on other websites. The amber coloration and spot pattern at the base of the wings are not consistent with other photos I’ve seen. Don’t know what it is but here is one I photographed. The female 12 spot and the female common whitetail are often confused.
Thank you for your time
Larry Hamrin

Correction: Sat, Feb 21, 2009 at 3:23 AM
Good morning,
If I may, as Larry pointed it, 12 spotted skimmer doesnt have amber patches on the wings.
This one is a Painted Skimmer (Libellula semifasciata).
I hope this helps,
Renaud, Switzerland

Related Posts

  1. White Tail (June 6, 2005)
  2. Halloween Pennant, NOT Twelve Spotted Skimmer (August 7, 2008)
  3. Four Spotted Skimmer (August 9, 2007)
  4. Twelve Spot Cucumber Beetle (October 20, 2005)
  5. Needham’s Skimmer (October 7, 2008)

Comments 1

  1. RenaudB wrote:

    Good morning,

    If I may, as Larry pointed it, 12 spotted skimmer doesnt have amber patches on the wings.
    This one is a Painted Skimmer (Libellula semifasciata).
    I hope this helps,
    Renaud, Switzerland

    Posted 21 Feb 2009 at 6:23 am

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