Twelve-Spotted Skimmer vs Desert Firetail Damselfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Twelve-Spotted Skimmer | Desert Firetail Damselfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Libellula pulchella | Telebasis salva |
| Order | Odonata | Odonata |
| Family | Libellulidae | Coenagrionidae |
| Size | 65-75 mm wingspan | 25-32 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Predators | Omnivores |
| 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.
Did You Know?
Despite the name twelve-spotted, mature males actually have 24 wing markings when the white pruinose spots are included.
Desert Firetail Damselfly
A bright red damselfly found at ponds and streams in the arid American Southwest. Males are vivid crimson while females are duller brown.
Did You Know?
It is one of the most heat-tolerant damselflies, actively flying in temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius.