science education resource

Dragonfly (Twelve-spot Skimmer)

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Libellula pulchella
Dragonfly (Twelve-spot Skimmer)

Range

They are found through most of the U.S.

Habitat

They live near wet areas, along streams, ponds and marshes.

Body Traits

They have large wings and are strong fliers. The buzzing sound of their flight can be heard as they go by. They have a brown head and thorax with whitish-blue abdomen. There are 3 dark spots on each wing. The males have white spots between the dark spots. They are 1 - 1.5 inches long.

Habits

When they rest on plants or rocks, they sit with their wings spread.

Diet

They eat flying insects including mosquitoes, flies, butterflies, moths, mayflies, and even other dragonflies!

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

Females lay their eggs on plants stems near the water line.

Dragonfly (Twelve-spot Skimmer)

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class:     Insecta
Order:     Odonata
Suborder: Anisoptera
Family: Libellulidae
Genus:     Libellula
Species: L. pulchella

Citing Research References

When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).

When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Dragonfly (Twelve-spot Skimmer)" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. December 13, 2024
< http://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/Dragonfly-Twelve-spot-Skimmer >

Exploringnature.org has more than 2,000 illustrated animals. Read about them, color them, label them, learn to draw them.