Head to head
Common Whitetail vs Twelve-Spotted Skimmer
A common whitetail and a twelve-spotted skimmer are both widespread, easily recognised pond dragonflies whose mature males develop a striking white colouration as they age, though the two species put that white colouring in very different places.
| Common Whitetail | Twelve-Spotted Skimmer | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Plathemis lydia | Libellula pulchella |
| Where white develops in mature males | Across the entire abdomen | Between the wing spots |
| Wing pattern | Broad dark band mid-wing | Three dark spots per wing, twelve total |
| Body size | Medium | Larger, more robust |
| Habitat | Ponds, lakes, marshes | Ponds, lakes, slow streams |
| Range | Most of US, southern Canada | Most of US, southern Canada |
| Behaviour | Patrols and defends shoreline territory | Perches and defends pond-edge territory |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Whitetail vs Twelve-Spotted Skimmer: common questions
How can you tell a common whitetail from a twelve-spotted skimmer?
Look at where the white develops on a mature male: a common whitetail whitens across its entire abdomen while showing a single broad dark band per wing, whereas a twelve-spotted skimmer keeps a darker abdomen but develops extra white spots between the three dark spots already present on each wing, twelve dark spots in total.
Why do male dragonflies develop these white markings as they age?
In both species, the white colouration that develops in mature males, called pruinosity, a waxy powder produced as the dragonfly ages, is thought to play a role in territorial signalling to rival males and in mate recognition by females, even though the common whitetail and twelve-spotted skimmer display it on entirely different parts of the body.
Do the common whitetail and twelve-spotted skimmer share the same habitat?
Yes, both species are widespread across most of the United States and southern Canada and commonly found around the same kinds of ponds, lakes, and slow-moving water, meaning it is entirely possible to spot males of both species patrolling the same shoreline on a given day.