Identification

Field Marks

• Average adult size is approximately 2.0 inches
• Brown eyes and face
• Brown thorax with two thoracic stripes
• Thoracic stripes are yellow in immature skimmers and are covered with gray-white pruinose with age
• Abdomen brown and yellow striped covered by blue-gray pruinose in mature males
• Brown and yellow abdominal pattern often partially still visible though the pruinose
• Wings have 3 black spots on each (base, nodus, tip) with two white pruinose spots in between
• Immature males look very similar to females

Field Marks

• Eyes reddish-brown
• Face yellow and brown
• Brown thorax with two yellow thoracic strips
• Brown abdomen with two continuous yellow stripes running on outside edges on top
• Three black spots on each wing (base, nodus, tip)

Similar Species

• Common Whitetail
• Males look different but females look similar
• The Twelve-spotted Skimmer is larger, averaging around 2 inches, compared to the Common Whitetail, averaging around 1.7 inches
• Abdominal topspots are continuous and form two straight lines on the twelve-spotted Skimmer female, they are diagonal and form a zig zag line on the Common Whitetail female
• Prince Baskettail
• Both species and large, dark and have similar wing patches
• The Prince Baskettail is much larger than the Twelve-spotted Skimmer
• Twelve-spotted skimmers typically have thoracic stripes where Prince Baskettail do not

Behavior

Males often patrol a territory along a shoreline. Will chase any type of dragonfly from their territory. Flight is typically a combination of hovering and darting. Will also perch pennant style on a branch or stick near the water.

Habitat

Ponds and lakes with emergent vegetation. Also slow streams and occasionally bogs

Reproduction

Mating takes place in the air. Female lays eggs by tapping her abdomen into water typically near vegetation. Males may hover gaurd in places where the population is low.