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. |