Spangled Skimmer

Photo of a Spangled Skimmer dragonfly, male
Scientific Name
Libellula cyanea
Family
Libellulidae (skimmers) in the order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies)
Description

The spangled skimmer grows to nearly 2 inches long. Each of the 4 wings has a white spot beside a black spot on the outer leading edge.

  • Males are blue with a dark head.
  • Females are dark brown with lengthwise yellow stripes, and darkish wingtips.

Learn more about the spangled skimmer and other dragonflies (suborder Anisoptera) in their group entry.

Media Gallery
Photo of a Spangled Skimmer dragonfly, male
The spangled skimmer, Libellula cyanea, grows to nearly 2 inches long. Each of the 4 wings has a white spot beside a black spot on the outer leading edge. Males are blue with a dark head.
Donna Brunet
Use of this image is restricted to MDC only on this page
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Photo of a Spangled Skimmer dragonfly, female
Female spangled skippers are dark brown with lengthwise yellow stripes, and darkish wingtips. Like the males, each of the 4 wings has a white spot beside a black spot on the outer leading edge, making it look spangled.
Donna Brunet
Use of this image is restricted to MDC only on this page
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Male spangled skimmer perched on a twig, viewed from above
Look carefully at dragonflies to check your identifications. Dragonfly watching, with binoculars or cameras, is an actual hobby that some people enjoy. There are published field guides to dragonflies.
Noppadol Paothong
Photo by Noppadol Paothong, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
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Photo of a Spangled Skimmer dragonfly, male
Photo of a Spangled Skimmer dragonfly, female
Male spangled skimmer perched on a twig, viewed from above
Similar Species
About Land Invertebrates in Missouri
Invertebrates are animals without backbones, including earthworms, slugs, snails, and arthropods. Arthropods—invertebrates with “jointed legs” — are a group of invertebrates that includes crayfish, shrimp, millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, and insects. There may be as many as 10 million species of insects alive on earth today, and they probably constitute more than 90 percent all animal species.
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