birdandhike.com logo
Home | Wildlife | Invertebrates | Dragonflies and Damselflies | Dragonflies
Eight-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly (Libellula forensis)
Invertebrates Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis)

General: Eight-spotted Skimmer Dragonflies (Libellula forensis) are active daytime fliers occasionally seen around ponds and slow waters around Las Vegas. Males are recognized by their blue body color and black and white spots on the wings. There are two dark spots on each wing, and the outer dark spots are figure-8 shaped. Dark spots extend all the way across the wings. In females the body is brown with a yellow stripe, 3 dark wing patches on each wing, and clear rather than white between the dark spots.

These active creatures are harmless to humans, but they are voracious predators of small flying insects such as flies and mosquitoes. The larvae, however, can provide a bit of a bite. There are some good places for Watching Dragonflies Around Las Vegas.

Taxonomy: Order Odonata, Suborder Anisoptera, Family Libellulidae.

Comments: The "eight spots" in the name comes from the total of eight white spots, two on each of the four wings.

Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis)
Eight-spotted Skimmer male
Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis)
Eight-spotted Skimmer male
Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis)
Eight-spotted Skimmer male
Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis)
Eight-spotted Skimmer male
Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis)
Eight-spotted Skimmer female
Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis)
Eight-spotted Skimmer female
Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis) Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis)
Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis) Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis)

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240208

Inverts Around Las Vegas Wildlife Around Las Vegas Glossary Copyright, Conditions, Disclaimer Home
Google Ads