docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

On this trip to Texas I had a chance to photograph on of my favorite skimmer. The most commonly seen dragonflies are the perchers or skimmers of the family Libellulidae. It is the largest family of dragonflies in the world with over 1000 species.
One of the most eye-catching and beautiful species being the Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella). Males have 12 brown spots with white spots between. They used to be called Ten-spotted Skimmers but I believe that was because the counted the spot at the base of the wing as extending on to the adjacent wing. Thusly, five brown spots on the two fore wings and five on the hind wings. Females have only the brown spots. A males abdomen will take on a white or even blue pruinosity as they age. They are very quick flyers and males will defend their territory which can change from day to day. Mating takes place in flight and the female will deposit eggs by dipping her abdomen in the water or splashing eggs on to a muddy bank while guarded by the male. While surveying on this trip in two different places a fair amount of them were observed.
They can be seen in all three countries of North America.
I hope you find them as beautiful as I do. Enjoy!
>i< Doc

The next two are females.

Twelve Spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) F by Tony Schoch, on Flickr

Twelve Spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) F by Tony Schoch, on Flickr

The rest are males.

Twelve -spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) M by Tony Schoch, on Flickr

Twelve -spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) M by Tony Schoch, on Flickr

angler Loc: StHelens England

Excellent as always Doc.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

tcthome Loc: NJ

Beauties!

randave2001 Loc: Richmond

Wonderful set and description as always Doc. As a bonus I learned a new word (pruinose/pruinosity).

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

Thank you Jim. I appreciate you looking in and commenting. Cheers,
>i< Doc

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

Thanks for the thumbs up Gary.
>i< Doc

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

Thanks so much. To me they are beauties too. One of my favorite dragons to shoot and watch.
>i< Doc

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

I appreciate that Dave. I'm glad that you enjoyed them and learned something. There are quite a few dragons that become pruinose as they age. In some it totally changes their appearance. In some species the male and female start out looking the same. Here is one that really looks different because of pruinosity. This is a red dragonfly.

Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) ♂ by Tony Schoch, on Flickr

>i< Doc

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Outstanding, Doc. I find those 12 spotted skimmers to be quite timid. They have been hard for me to photograph.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Excellent photos & info! Thanks!

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

Thanks Ken. Yes the skimmers can be tough. When I find a group of them in a clear spot I usually just stand still for a while so they “get use to me being there.” Sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t! I find it works for shooting damsels. I just sit by the pond and wait.
>i< Doc

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

You are quite welcome my friend. So glad you liked them and found them of interest. Season is over here in Delaware.
>i< Doc

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Outstanding set, Doc! These could be in textbooks.

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

I really appreciate that Mike. I did have a few of my shots in the first dragonfly and damselfly field guide for Costa Rica. It was an unexpected honor.
>i< Doc