Fourspot

Fourspot commonly refers to the dragonfly species Libellula quadrimaculata, also known as the four-spotted chaser or four-spotted skimmer. It is a member of the family Libellulidae and has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across much of Europe, northern Asia and North America. The species name quadrimaculata derives from the four distinctive dark spots—one on each wing at the nodus—that give the insect its common name.

Adults are medium-sized dragonflies with a stocky body and broad, clear wings marked by the nodal spots. Coloration varies with age and sex; newly emerged individuals are often paler, while mature males and females show brown to black markings on the abdomen and thorax. Fourspots occupy still or slow-moving freshwater habitats such as ponds, marshes and the vegetated margins of lakes.

Behaviorally, Libellula quadrimaculata perches frequently on emergent vegetation and is territorial during the breeding season. It is a visual predator as both adult and nymph, feeding on a wide range of smaller insects; the aquatic larvae develop over a period that can span one or more years. The species is known for occasional mass movements or irruptions in some regions. Fourspot is generally common throughout its range and is not considered threatened.