# Eight-spotted Skimmer (*Libellula forensis*) The Eight-spotted Skimmer is a beautiful dragonfly with eight spots on its wings! It loves to fly over ponds and lakes, catching tiny insects to eat. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 10 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Eight-spotted Skimmer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eight-spotted_Skimmer_%28Libellula_forensis%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: The High Fin Sperm Whale, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eight-spotted_Skimmer_%28Libellula_forensis%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Eight-spotted Skimmer is a medium-sized dragonfly with a dark body, often with yellow side stripes. Its most distinctive feature is its wings, which have two prominent dark brown or black patches on each wing, making a total of eight spots. There is often a striking white or pale patch between the dark wing spots. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Libellula ## Interesting facts - Dragonflies spend most of their lives as fierce hunters underwater before taking to the sky! - Its amazing compound eyes have up to 30,000 tiny lenses for spotting the smallest prey! - They help keep pesky mosquito populations in check, especially around wetlands! - This ancient insect's ancestors flew the Earth over 300 million years ago, before dinosaurs! ## Special abilities - **Super Sight:** Eight-spotted Skimmer has massive compound eyes that give it nearly 360-degree vision for spotting tiny insects. - **Aerial Acrobatics:** Eight-spotted Skimmer can fly backward, hover, and dart rapidly, catching prey mid-air with incredible agility. - **Independent Flight:** Eight-spotted Skimmer can move its four wings independently, allowing for amazing control and complex flight patterns. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 70-90 mm - **Size:** 45-55 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Flight Speed:** 35 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding An excellent hunter, it eats many flying insects, helping keep pest populations in check. - **Age differences:** Nymphs (young) hunt aquatic insects and small tadpoles, while adults exclusively catch flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, gnats, flies, midges, small moths - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — helps control mosquito populations - **Eaten by:** [American Bullfrog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bullfrog) (*Lithobates catesbeianus*) — nymphs are prey for this hungry amphibian - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-kingbird) (*Tyrannus tyrannus*) — adults are a quick meal for this agile bird - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — an active predator of these common pests ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Dragonflies are friendly and won't hurt you, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eight-spotted Skimmer? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Eight-spotted Skimmer's wingspan? 70-90 mm ### How big is Eight-spotted Skimmer? 45-55 mm ### How long does Eight-spotted Skimmer live? 30-90 days ### How fast can Eight-spotted Skimmer fly? 35 km/h ### What does Eight-spotted Skimmer eat? An excellent hunter, it eats many flying insects, helping keep pest populations in check. ### Where is Eight-spotted Skimmer usually found? Wetlands ### How does Eight-spotted Skimmer hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cougar-mountain-regional-wildland-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Discovery Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/discovery-park) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve - [P Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/p-ranch) — Oregon, US · Historic Site - [Painted Hills](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/painted-hills) — Oregon, US · Natural Landmark - [Pike Place Market](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pike-place-market) — Washington, US · Historic District - [Bellevue Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellevue-botanical-garden) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Eight-spotted Skimmer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eight-spotted-skimmer) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Eight-spotted Skimmer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eight-spotted-skimmer)