The Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) is a large, obvious and fairly common dragonfly across the entire U.S. The male has three black patches on each wing; white patches develop between these black patches on mature individuals. Females have a brown thorax with yellow lateral stripes with similar wings to the male but lacking the white patches. The photo of the males shown here were taken in August 2003 in Sugarcreek, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 70-200 F2.8 L lens with 2X extender and 550 EX flash. The bottom photo shows a female which was taken in Fillmore Co., Minnesota in July 2004.

The male Twelve-spotted Skimmer on the left was near Millwood Lake, Howard Co., Arkansas, in September, 2007. It was shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.

The male Twelve-spotted Skimmer on the left was at Oxford Reservoir, Franklin Co., Idaho, in July, 2008. It was shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.

The male on the left was along the John Day River near Spray, Wheeler Co., Oregon, in July, 2008. It was shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.