General: Four-spotted Skimmer Dragonflies (Libellula quadrimaculata) are large, golden-yellow dragonflies with yellow-orange on the leading edge of the apparently unmarked wings. The stigma is black, and each nodus is marked with a black spot. The four dark nodal marks are the "four spots." In addition, there is a larger dark spot at the base of the hindwing. The abdomen is hairy and yellow, with dark towards the tip.
These active creatures are harmless to humans, but they are voracious predators of small flying insects such as flies and mosquitoes.
Taxonomy: Order Odonata, Suborder Anisoptera, Family Libellulidae.
Where to Find: Don't look for Four-spotted Skimmers around Las Vegas. Rather, look for them up north or the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. Around Las Vegas, keep an eye out for them during migration, as they occur around the world at latitudes generally north of Las Vegas. |