- Skimmers
- Libellulidae Family
The Four-spotted Skimmer has a small black spot in the middle of the leading edge of each wing and dark patches at the bases of the hindwings. The stigma are dark and there is a yellow streak along the front of each wing. The male has a greenish to orangish body. Females are similar but paler.
This is a northern transcontinental species with scattered records in the western half of state. In 2013, BrianPeterson found large numbers (some laying eggs) for a few days inlate June at sites in Douglas and Saunders County. These are theonly Nebraska records in the eastern half of the state, although it isregular in northwestern Iowa. It is a pond species usually found in marshy cattail areas.
Four-spotted Skimmer male. Photo courtesy of Gordon Warrick.
Size: 42-46 mm (1.7-1.8 in)
Habitat: marshy ponds and lakes, slow streams
Great Plains Range: NE, SD, ND, NM, CO, WY, MT, IA, MN
Flight season: early June to late July
Green indicates accepted county record (specimen or photograph).
Yellow indicates sight record only.