# Twelve-spotted Skimmer (*Libellula pulchella*) The Twelve-spotted Skimmer is a colorful dragonfly with twelve black spots on its wings. It loves to fly around ponds and lakes, making it a fun sight to see on sunny days! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 17 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Twelve-spotted Skimmer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Libellula_pulchella_36631322.jpg&width=800) Photo: Kyle Flood from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Libellula_pulchella_36631322.jpg) ## Appearance The Twelve-spotted Skimmer has a dark body with yellow markings. Its most distinctive feature is three dark spots on each of its four clear wings. Males also develop striking white patches between these spots, while females and young males have yellowish-orange patches that fade with age. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Libellula ## Interesting facts - Each of its four wings can move independently, making it a master of agile flight! - Its underwater babies, called nymphs, are fierce predators with extendable jaws! - The Twelve-spotted Skimmer can eat hundreds of mosquitoes in just one day! - This amazing insect lived on Earth even before the first dinosaurs appeared! ## Special abilities - **Aerial Acrobatics:** Twelve-spotted Skimmer can fly with incredible agility because each wing moves independently, helping them snatch prey mid-flight. - **Predator Vision:** Twelve-spotted Skimmer has huge compound eyes that give it almost 360-degree vision, helping them spot tiny flying insects. - **Underwater Hunter:** Twelve-spotted Skimmer nymphs have an extendable lower jaw that shoots out like a mask to ambush and grab aquatic prey. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 80-110 mm - **Size:** 48-63 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 50 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding This swift hunter zips through the air to snatch up tasty flying insects! - **Age differences:** Nymphs hunt aquatic insects and tadpoles underwater; adults hunt flying insects in the air. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, flies, midges, moths, butterflies, smaller dragonflies - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — eats flying insects like flies - **Eaten by:** [American Bullfrog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bullfrog) (*Rana catesbeiana*) — adult skimmers are prey for frogs - **Eaten by:** [Yellow Perch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-perch) (*Perca flavescens*) — fish prey on the aquatic nymphs - **Depends on:** Common Cattail (*Typha latifolia*) — nymphs hide in its submerged roots ## 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 Twelve-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 Twelve-spotted Skimmer's wingspan? 80-110 mm ### How big is Twelve-spotted Skimmer? 48-63 mm ### How long does Twelve-spotted Skimmer live? 30-60 days ### How fast can Twelve-spotted Skimmer fly? 50 km/h ### What does Twelve-spotted Skimmer eat? This swift hunter zips through the air to snatch up tasty flying insects! ### Where is Twelve-spotted Skimmer usually found? Wetlands ### How does Twelve-spotted Skimmer hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Arnold Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arnold-arboretum) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Chestnut Street District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chestnut-street-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [City Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/city-park) — Colorado, US · Park - [Clayton Public Schools Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clayton-public-schools-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Garland Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/garland-hill-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District - [Gensburg-Markham Prairie](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gensburg-markham-prairie) — Illinois, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Twelve-spotted Skimmer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/twelve-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: [Twelve-spotted Skimmer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/twelve-spotted-skimmer)