| Eight-spotted skimmer | |
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Scientific classification
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Family: | Libellulidae |
| Genus: | Libellula |
| Species: | L. forensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Libellula forensis Hagen, 1861
[2]
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| Range of L. forensis [3] | |
The eight-spotted skimmer (Libellula forensis) is a dragonfly of the skimmer family.
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 American with white spots on the wings. [5] The total length is 44 to 50 mm. Flight season is April through October. [4] [5]
References
- ^ Paulson, D.R. (2017). "Libellula forensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T51275487A65836549. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T51275487A65836549.en. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ "Libellula forensis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- ^ "Distribution Viewer". OdonataCentral. Archived from the original on September 3, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b Dunkle, Sidney W. (2000). Dragonflies Through Binoculars. Oxford University Press. pp. 297–298. ISBN 0-19-511268-7.
External links
Media related to
Libellula forensis at Wikimedia Commons
- Libellula forensis on BugGuide.Net
 | This article related to Libellulidae is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Libellulidae
- Odonata of North America
- Insects of the United States
- Fauna of the Western United States
- Fauna of the California chaparral and woodlands
- Fauna of the Rocky Mountains
- Fauna of the Sierra Nevada (United States)
- Insects described in 1861
- Libellulidae stubs