About Libellula forensis Hagen, 1861
Libellula forensis Hagen, 1861 is a dragonfly with the typical body form of a skimmer. It gets its common name from the eight black markings found on its wings. This species is similar to the twelve-spotted skimmer, but it does not have the black wing tip markings that the twelve-spotted skimmer possesses. Male individuals of this species also have a total of eight opaque white spots on their wings. This dragonfly lives west of the Rocky Mountains, near ponds and lakes that have muddy bottoms. In areas east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, some female Libellula forensis may also have white spots. These are the only female dragonflies in North America with white wing spots. Adults of the species reach a total length of 44 to 50 mm, and their flight season runs from April to October.
