Scarlet Skimmer vs Twelve-Spotted Skimmer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Scarlet Skimmer | Twelve-Spotted Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crocothemis erythraea | Libellula pulchella |
| Order | Odonata | Odonata |
| Family | Libellulidae | Libellulidae |
| Size | 52-60 mm wingspan | 65-75 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, Africa, Asia | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Scarlet Skimmer
A medium-sized dragonfly where males are entirely vivid scarlet red, including the veins of the wings. It is one of the most recognizable dragonflies in the Old World.
Did You Know?
The scarlet skimmer has been expanding rapidly into northern Europe, establishing breeding populations in countries where it was previously unknown.
Twelve-Spotted Skimmer
A showy dragonfly with three dark spots on each wing, totaling twelve. Mature males develop additional white spots between the dark ones.
Did You Know?
Despite the name twelve-spotted, mature males actually have 24 wing markings when the white pruinose spots are included.