Twelve-spotted skimmer dragonflies are now flying in force. The local name of these fast-flying hunters sometimes varies depending on whether there’s a dark or light spot counter involved.
Both male and female 12-spots have three dark spots on each of their four wings (3 x 4 = 12). However, the males (such as this one) develop 10 bright spots between the dark ones and often are called 10-spotted dragonflies, although that name is not officially recognized by bug big shots.
Both 12-spot sexes are fierce mid-air pest predators. A single one of them reportedly eats from 30 to 100+ mosquitoes and other soft-bodied insects daily, such as gnats, midges, flies, mayflies, and small moths. These dragonflies digest food and expel waste so fast that they’ll often consume their own body weight in prey during the day.
(Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on July 5, 2026.)