NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 0

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Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) by Beth Brinson

Compare with: Distinctive
Identification Tips: Move the cursor over the image, or tap the image if using a mobile device, to reveal ID Tips.
Note: these identification tips apply specifically to mature males; features may differ in immature males and in females.

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Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Flight Charts

Distribution

A partly migratory species. Mountains, Piedmont, and western half of the Coastal Plain; seemingly absent in the eastern 40-50% of the Coastal Plain, as there are no records east of Gates, Pitt, Lenoir, and Onslow counties -- other than an iNaturalist photo record in August 2023 from the Dare County Outer Banks. Resident only in the mountains and parts of the western Piedmont; rather seasonal (mostly spring and fall only) in the eastern half of the state.

Abundance

Uncommon to locally fairly common in the mountains. Very uncommon in the Piedmont as a whole, though a migrant through much of the province, and in the eastern portions can be rather rare and is not resident there. A rare migrant in the western half of the Coastal Plain, where seen mainly in fall migration; extremely rare migrant/stray in the eastern Coastal Plain.

Flight

In the mountains, where it is a resident (though some records might refer to migrants), the flight is from late April to late September, rarely to mid-October. The Piedmont set of flight dates is from very late April to mid-October, with a stray record for early November. The fact that there is a clear dip in records in midsummer in the Piedmont flight chart is a strong indication that the species is mainly a migrant, seen mostly in spring/early summer and late summer/fall. In the Coastal Plain, where migratory, the dates range from mid-May to mid-October, with most being from late August into October.

Habitat

Ponds, lakes, and marshes, typically in open situations; may oviposit in small, temporary pools.

See also Habitat Account for General Pond Shorelines

Behavior

Males are very conspicuous as they patrol, often hovering, over their pools and ponds. Adults are similar to other skimmers in that they often forage well away from water in fields and wooded borders.

Comments

Much is still to be learned about its biology in NC. This species is one of the few dragonflies that is partly migratory in the state. Individuals appear in the Coastal Plain and in much of the Piedmont at sites away from breeding waters, often where observers are quite familiar with the general area. Plus, they are seen mainly in spring or late summer/fall. The female looks quite similar to the female Common Whitetail and thus could be overlooked. However, adult males are very conspicuous and elicit much excitement when seen, because of their "snazzy" appearance and relative scarcity in NC.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2024-01-10 14:39:03

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Twelve-spotted Skimmer 33 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Jeffrey Pippen Comment: Durham, 2024-04-17, Power line right of way		Photo 2 by: George Andrews Comment: Union, 2023-09-04, Cane Creek Park Lake, Union County east marsh - County first?
	Photo 3 by: Paul Hart Comment: Harnett; C, 2023-06-05, Patriots Park at Ponderosa County Park - Male		Photo 4 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2022-09-25, Stones Creek Game Land - male. First record for county
	Photo 5 by: Travis McLain Comment: Cabarrus, 2023-09-16, At private pond SW of Concord. iNaturalist record # 135271958 - male		Photo 6 by: Skylar Davis Comment: Alamance, 2022-08-14, Cates Farm Park, Mebane - Female
	Photo 7 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent Comment: Granville, 2021-05-20, Butner powerline clearing - female; photo by Lori Arent		Photo 8 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-05-15, Hot Springs area
	Photo 9 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Rowan, 2021-04-30,		Photo 10 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Stokes, 2019-08-20, Hanging Rock State Park, Vade Mecum area
	Photo 11 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and party. Comment: Avery, 2019-05-21, Pond on private property that adjoins the Blue Ridge Parkway in southern Avery County. - Male.		Photo 12 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2019-05-21, Hot Springs area
	Photo 13 by: Mike Turner Comment: Wilkes; P, 2018-09-22, W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir; from dam to ~1000' downstream		Photo 14 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Orange, 2018-09-20, Brumley Forest Preserve, North side of NC 10 at silo pond. - Male.
	Photo 15 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-02, Tanglewood Park - adult male		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-25, Pond beside Breedlove Road, 5 km northeast of Cashiers - First record for county
	Photo 17 by: Barbara McRae Comment: Macon, 2018-06-09, Wetland area near Little Tennessee River, Franklin		Photo 18 by: Mike Turner Comment: Watauga, 2018-06-02, Brookshire Park; Boone - adult males
	Photo 19 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Ashe, 2017-07-18, Pond Mountain Game Land, at one of the ponds on top of the mountain. Including photo just for verification - Male		Photo 20 by: M. Tschopp Comment: Wake, 2015-08-16, North Wake Landfill District Park
	Photo 21 by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand Comment: Northampton, 2012-05-17, Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land, along both sides of US 258 north of the Roanoke River - female		Photo 22 by: Vin Stanton, Janie Owens, Gail Lankford Comment: Haywood, 2011-08-13, Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains NP - Male
	Photo 23 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Watauga, 2011-06-10, Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area		Photo 24 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Buncombe, 2011-06-05, - Leicester patch
	Photo 25 by: Mark Shields Comment: Pender, 2010-10-13, Holly Shelter Game Land - apparent first record for Pender Co.		Photo 26 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Buncombe, 2010-06-08, - Leicester patch
	Photo 27 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Watauga, 2010-05-26, Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area		Photo 28 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Henderson, 2009-09-24, Fletcher Park
	Photo 29 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2009-09-13, Beaver Lake, Asheville		Photo 30 by: Beth Brinson Comment: Alleghany, 2009-06-27, Blue Ridge Parkway, Male