Four-spotted Skimmer
Libellula quadrimaculata
This species is famous for forming massive migratory swarms of millions, occasionally dense enough to register on meteorological radar.
- Scientific name
- Libellula quadrimaculata
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Odonata › Libellulidae › Libellula
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Acidic peat bogs, marshes, ponds, fens, and slow-moving streams with abundant emergent vegetation.
- Diet
- Flying insects, including mosquitoes, gnats, midges, flies, and small butterflies.
- Range
- North America, Europe, Asia
- Size
- Wingspan of 70-85 mm; body length of 40-48 mm
- Lifespan
- 1 to 2 years (mostly spent as an aquatic nymph; adults live 1 to 2 months)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Wetland destruction, water pollution from agricultural runoff, and drought driven by climate change.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. These dragonflies are completely safe to observe at close range and will not sting or bite humans unless handled aggressively. If they land on you, remain still and enjoy the encounter. No medical action is ever required.
The four-spotted chaser ( Libellula quadrimaculata ), known in North America as the four-spotted skimmer , is a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae found frequently throughout Europe, Asia, and North America.
Photo: Peter Preus, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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