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NAMES

Libellula pulchella
Common Name
Twelve-spotted skimmer
Mosquito hawks
Conservation Status
Least Concern (LC)

TAXONOMY

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum-Animalia
Arthropoda
Subphylum-Animalia
Hexapoda
Class-Animalia
Insecta
Order-Animalia
Odonata
Suborder-Animalia
Anisoptera
Family-Animalia
Libellulidae
Genus-Animalia
Libellula
Country:
   Sierra Leone
Issued:
   2003-01-13
Stamp:
   Libellula pulchella
Sierra Leone postage - Libellula pulchella (Twelve-spotted skimmer)
Country:
   Sierra Leone
Issued:
   2003-01-13
Stamp:
   Libellula pulchella
Sierra Leone postage - Libellula pulchella (Twelve-spotted skimmer)
Country:
   Sierra Leone
Issued:
   2003-01-13
Stamp:
   Libellula pulchella
Sierra Leone postage - Libellula pulchella (Twelve-spotted skimmer)
Libellula pulchella (Twelve-spotted skimmer)
Libellula pulchella (Twelve-spotted skimmer)

Genus species (Animalia): Libellula pulchella

The twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella) is a common North American skimmer dragonfly, found in southern Canada and in all 48 of the contiguous U.S. states.

It is a large species, at 50 mm (2.0 in) long. Each wing has three brown spots. In adult males, additional white spots form between the brown ones and at the bases of the hindwings; it is sometimes called the ten-spot skimmer for the number of these white spots.

Behavior

This large dragonfly often rests on a prominent perch within its territory. Even when startled it may dart off only to return within a few minutes. The male twelve-spotted patrols his territory and defends it against other male twelve-spotted and even other dragonflies.

Some call this dragonfly the ten-spotted skimmer because the male has ten white spots on his wings (including the two rear wing spots next to the body). However, twelve-spotted is a more accurate name since the female doesn't have the white spots, but does have the twelve dark spots.


Reference: Wikipedia, National Park Service
Photos: P. Needle

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