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The Span of Things

Twelve-spotted Skimmer - Libellula pulchella - Male

 

"Once upon a time, this was the Ten-spot(ted) Skimmer, and formerly appeared in most books under that common name. To make it so, the basal spot of opposite wings was counted as one spot crossing the thorax (and so it appears at a glance, especially when they are flying or seen from a distance). Some authors rationalize it as counting the cloudy white spots on the wings, but that's only good for mature males, and it often doesn't work (there are often only eight white spots, the two at the base of the hind wing either missing or having been rubbed off)."

 

Mature males have twelve brown wing spots, as well as eight white wing spots. The basal area of the hind wing is also whitish.

 

Females and immature males have the twelve brown wing spots but not the white spots. Their abdomens are brown with a yellow stripe along each side.

 

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Uploaded on December 4, 2014
Taken on August 15, 2013