The eight-spotted skimmer (Libellula forensis) is a dragonfly of the skimmer family.
| 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] | |
Description
editThis 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 America with white spots on the wings.[5] The total length is 44 to 50 mm. Flight season is April through October.[4][5]
References
edit- ^ 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
edit
Media related to Libellula forensis at Wikimedia Commons
- Libellula forensis on BugGuide.Net
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