August Species of the Month: Four-Spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata)
August’s DSA’s species of the month is the Four-Spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata). It is in the Skimmers Family (Libellulidae), considered North America’s largest dragonfly family, with more than 1,000 species worldwide. Measuring about 43 mm long (1.7 inches), they are often found in ponds, lakes, and slow streams. Its range includes North America, Japan, Europe, and Northwestern Africa. Join professional photographer Vic Berardi as he and his wife, Ann, experience an unusual dragonfly adventure.
Four-Spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata), Sand Pond, Illinois Beach State Park, Zion, IL June 23, 2023. (Copyright Vic Berardi)
An Explosion of Four-spotted Skimmers
One might think a writeup about the Four-spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata) wouldn’t be all that special. However, when you see over 200 of them in a relatively small area you realize something different is happening.
Sand Pond, Illinois Beach State Park, Zion, IL June 23, 2023. (Copyright Vic Berardi)
On June 23, 2023 my wife Ann and I went to Sand Pond, part of the northern unit of Illinois Beach State Park near Zion, IL, about 20 minutes from our home. Lake County describes Sand Pond as a 20-acre glacial lake that empties into Kellogg Creek, and eventually, Lake Michigan. That day, the forecast called for rain. Instead, the sun came out and it was a beautiful day.
Four-Spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata), Sand Pond, Illinois Beach State Park, Zion, IL, June 23, 2023. (Copyright Vic Berardi)
As soon as we got out of our vehicle I noticed several Four-spotted Skimmers flying overhead. When we started down the trail, we saw even more. The pond has a maximum depth of nine and half feet, and almost a mile of shoreline trail around its perimeter. The open places along the shoreline are usually full of fishermen, but there were only a few out that day. That made it easy to walk into the openings and look for more dragonflies.
Dot-tailed Whiteface (Leucorrhinia intacta) on the left; Four-Spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata) on the right; Sand Pond, Illinois Beach State Park, Zion, IL June 23, 2023. (Copyright Vic Berardi)
At every opening to the shoreline we saw Four-spotted Skimmers. I began a very conservative count. By the time we went full circle, I estimated we saw at least 200 of them! It was just incredible. I took many photos, and I wanted to get more of multiple perched Four-spotted Skimmers. However, the photographer part of me wouldn’t allow anything blurred in a photo and besides, they didn’t stay perched very long in any one spot.
Two Four-Spotted Skimmers (Libellula quadrimaculata), Sand Pond, Illinois Beach State Park, Zion, IL June 23, 2023. (Copyright Vic Berardi)
The Four-spotted Skimmers appeared close to teneral. Their wings were in very good shape and they flew into spots that were underneath the branches and leaves of the bushes along the shoreline. None appeared to be flying with any power.
Four-Spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata), Sand Pond, Illinois Beach State Park, Zion, IL, June 23, 2023. (Copyright Vic Berardi)
Ann and I are far from calling ourselves dragonfly experts. We just like to watch them, learn about them, and take photos of them whenever we can. However, after seeing so many Four-spotted Skimmers I was curious. When we got home, I read more about Four-spotted Skimmers and learned they are circumpolar, and are found around the northern hemisphere including Europe and the north Asian continent including Japan. In other parts of the world, they are referred to as the Four-spotted Chaser, with the same scientific name.
Four-Spotted Skimmer, Sand Pond, Illinois Beach State Park, Zion, IL, June 23, 2023. (Copyright Ann Berardi)
On social media, I saw that Ohio was having an explosion of Four-spotted Skimmers. Was that what was happening at Sand Pond? I don’t know! But, I would like to think we were seeing a large emergence year for them. We later saw a small swarm of Four-spotted Skimmers in Door County, part of northeastern Wisconsin, near Lake Michigan.
It makes me wonder. What is going on?
Vic Berardi, Sand Pond, Illinois Beach State Park, Zion, IL (copyright Ann Berardi) June 23, 2023.
Our August contributor, Vic Berardi, is an avid photographer and raptor enthusiast, especially in the fall when he spends many hours hawkwatching at the Illinois Beach State Park Hawkwatch. But in summer he and his wife Ann enjoy observing and learning all they can about dragonflies. They enjoy everything from visiting ponds close to home to week-long trips up to Door County, WI, to look for and photograph the Hine’s Emerald, (Somatochlora hineana). Contact him at vbirdman@aol.com.
