Twelve-Spotted Skimmer vs Blue-eyed Darner

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Twelve-Spotted Skimmer Blue-eyed Darner
Scientific Name Libellula pulchella Rhionaeschna multicolor
Order Odonata Odonata
Family Libellulidae Aeshnidae
Size 65-75 mm wingspan 60-70mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Ponds & Lakes
Diet Predators Predators
Regions North America North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

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Did You Know?

Despite the name twelve-spotted, mature males actually have 24 wing markings when the white pruinose spots are included.

Blue-eyed Darner

A large darner dragonfly with striking bright blue eyes and blue spots on a brown body. It is one of the most common large dragonflies in western North America. It hunts in prolonged patrol flights.

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Did You Know?

Its brilliant blue eyes are among the most vivid in the insect world and can be seen from several meters away.