Insect · GBIF taxon 1427915
Four-spotted Skimmer
Libellula quadrimaculataAlso known as Four-spotted Chaser
Four-spotted skimmers are agile wetland hunters celebrated for their darting flight and habit of returning repeatedly to the exact same exposed sunlit perch. Females lay eggs by tapping the surface of calm water in rapid hovering sequences, while territorial males patrol pond margins and aggressively chase rival insects away. Under certain climatic conditions, massive populations assemble into synchronized migratory swarms that travel hundreds of kilometers across entire continents.
WetlandAgile FlyerDiurnal
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Midges
- Mosquitoes
- Mayflies
Predators
- Eurasian Hobby
- Green Frog
- European Spider
ThreatsDrainage of wetlands, chemical pollution, and loss of aquatic vegetation.
HabitatsStill or slow-moving waters such as ponds, lakes, bogs, peatlands, and marshes.
Life span1–3 years as an aquatic nymph; 1–2 months as a flying adult.
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyLibellulidae
- SpeciesLibellula quadrimaculata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation Perches: Look for them on prominent reeds or bare twigs projecting into sunny, open water.
- Patient Approach: Walk slowly toward a perched adult; they often return to the exact same stem after being flushed.
- Identification Tip: Check the center of each wing's leading edge for a distinct dark nodal spot.
Same Genus (c) Thomas Bresson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Same Genus D. Gordon E. Robertson / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Predator (c) Ani Sarkisyan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ani Sarkisyan · cc-by
Close Relative Bruce Marlin / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
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