Species account

Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata)    Linnaeus, 1758
   Skimmers (Libellulidae) [Dragonflies]    FSCH    24818
Fire-plettet Libel (dk)   Centinela de Cuatro Manchas (es)   Fyrfläckad Trollslända (se)  
Synonyms (common):
Four-spotted Skimmer (us) Libélula de Cuatro Manchas (es)
Synonyms (scientific):
Libellula maculata Harris, 1780
Libellula quadripunctata Fabricius, 1781
Libellula praenubila Newman, 1833
Libellula ternaria Say, 1840 (part)
Libellula flavescens Brittinger, 1850 (nec Fabricius, 1798)
Libellula basilinea McLachlan, 1894
Libellula contacta Bartenev, 1930
Libellula quadrimaculata orientalis Belyshev, 1956
Libellula quadrimaculata asahinai Schmidt, 1957
Libellula quadrimaculata grigorievi Schmidt, 1961
Libellula relicta Belyshev, 1973
Measurements:
To 40-48mm Ab 27-32mm Hw 32-40mm
Generations:
Flight period:
JFMAMJJASOND 
Scan
EU
Identification:
V-shaped upper appendages on the male, in parallel on the female.
Similar species:
Life stages:
The mating only lasts a short while and takes place in flight. The solo flying female then drops the eggs into the water from low height or by dipping the tail, over shallow water. Often the male watches over her during the process. The eggs hatch after a few weeks, and the larvae live in between the water plants or at the bottom and develop during 2-3 years (According to D. Paulson 2019 the larvae are mud dwellers, supported by the uplifted eyes and the uplifted backend for respiration out of the mud. Are both correct under different circumstances perhaps or is Ole F. Nielsen right/wrong?). The imago-transformation takes place close to the shore or up to 5-10 meters from it; in bushes or thickets. The transformation often takes place in the morning and as a mass-emergence within a few days at each locality.
Distribution:
Most of Europe; absent large parts of southern Iberian peninsula, central Scandinavian peninsula, southern part of the Mediterranean basin. Also present NW Africa, locally Greece and Turkey. Also east through the Asian continent from Russia to China and Japan. Also N America; mainly Alaska, southern part of Canada and the lower 48 except the SE states. In Denmark widespread in all regions.
DK Map.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Endemic:
Status
One of the most common species in Denmark present in all parts including all larger islands. Stable og perhaps even increasing.
Comment:
European populations sometime increase to huge migrating numbers, something not seen in the N American populations.
Four-spotted Chaser 632    (1 photos)
2021-06-07    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago




Four-spotted Chaser 491    (1 photos)
2021-05-30    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male
It looks like the appendages are close at the base, why I guess it is a male. Only one seen today.



Four-spotted Chaser 619    (1 photos)
2021-06-07    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male
Common.



Four-spotted Chaser 620    (1 photos)
2021-06-07    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male




Four-spotted Chaser 621    (1 photos)
2021-06-07    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male
Perhaps the same as 622.



Four-spotted Chaser 622    (1 photos)
2021-06-07    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male
Perhaps the same as 621.



Four-spotted Chaser 656    (1 photos)
2022-05-14    Gjerrild (djursland), Denmark

Imago Male
Shelter ponds.



Four-spotted Chaser 811    (1 photos)
2022-06-18    Krebseklo-vandhullet/kirkegård (Hørsholm), Denmark

Imago Male
Krebseklo-vandhullet.



Four-spotted Chaser 950    (2 photos)
2022-07-12    Ronneby-area (Blekinge), Sweden

Imago Male
Blanksjön. Form Praenubila with dark markings distally on the wings.



Four-spotted Chaser 1383    (3 photos)
2023-05-12    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male
Ehv-sporet.
The first this year for me, enjoying the warm weather we have been blessed with.



Four-spotted Chaser 1617    (1 photos)
2023-06-08    Grundsjön (Skåne), Sweden

Imago Male
Common here, but not as common as the Lilypad...



Four-spotted Chaser 1544    (1 photos)
2023-06-15    Kalvebod Fælled (København), Denmark

Imago Male
Store Høj.
The size of the nodal spots can vary considerably, here being larger than normal. There is also a tiny amount of smudging around the wing marks, which might indicate that the animal belongs to the form praenubila which shows dark tinting at the tip of the wings.



Four-spotted Chaser 2726    (2 photos)
2024-05-21    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
DLK øst. Teneral.

Was sitting in an awkward position between grass why I gave it a hand to spread out and dry well.

Android photos.

Hands on
Four-spotted Chaser 2887    (1 photos)
2024-07-25    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Mature. One of the species I tend to ignore when photographing later in the season. All dark-looking and often vary and keeping a distance are some of the reasons, but also the simple fact that they are less attractive visually plays a role.

Here an individual with very limited node-spots, allowing for some confusion if you don't see the animal well enough.



Four-spotted Chaser 3140    (5 photos)
2025-05-05    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male
SHV-lysninger.
After having created my own nets, this is my first attempt to catch the larger dragonflies. At first it appeared impossible to approach any of the four-spotted that were perched low in the vegetation - they seemed to be able to smell my dubious intentions, and flew away before I could get close enough. But then finally I succeed with this one. Learning how to move oneself and the net comes with practice it turned out.

I had read that the animals often stay put after being released, allowing good opportunities to take photos. This was also the case here, and in fact, I got a little worried because, it seemed completely reluctant to move by itself, after I released it. Pushing it a little, to test it, it decided to land on my pants instead. The wind was cold today, and though we were in a sheltered clearing the extra heat absorbed by my pants might have been attractive, ignoring the risk, I had just put it through. Or are they reluctant to fly instantly, after being released, caused by a physiological condition? Could it be that when being captured and hold by the wings, the wing muscles continue to fire, and the animal eventually gets tired, and it then takes a longer time for it to recover its strength and ability to move the wings properly?

Hands on Captured
Four-spotted Chaser 487    (5 photos)
2021-05-29    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Female
Female because of the separate appendages at the base. Difficult animale to approach. Very wary.

Lifer.



Four-spotted Chaser 1236    (3 photos)
2021-06-05    Suserup Overdrev (Sorø), Denmark

Imago Female
Teneral.



Four-spotted Chaser 651    (2 photos)
2022-05-09    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Female
The first dragonfly in my season. And even an early animal generally.



Four-spotted Chaser 655    (1 photos)
2022-05-14    Gjerrild (djursland), Denmark

Imago Female
Shelter ponds between Gjerrild and Sostrup.



Four-spotted Chaser 667    (1 photos)
2022-05-22    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Female
Pinseskoven.
Looks like the appendages are broken. How will that work?



Four-spotted Chaser 1851    (1 photos)
2022-06-12    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Female




Four-spotted Chaser 951    (1 photos)
2022-07-12    Ronneby-area (Blekinge), Sweden

Imago Female
Blanksjön. Mature normal form.



Four-spotted Chaser 1478    (1 photos)
2023-06-05    Allgunnens Naturreservat (Kalmar), Sweden

Imago Female
Common throughout southern Sweden.



Four-spotted Chaser 2728    (10 photos)
2024-05-28    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Exuvia
DLK-syd.
Meta data says the photos are from May 30, but I've made notes that says I was there on May 28.
Bulky mask; Regularly toothed labial palps; Hairy seem between top and back of head; Parallel side to back head; Cerci more than half length of paraprocts; Back spine on S8 but not on S9; Side spine of S9 not reaching appendages; Size and shape.

Exuvia
Four-spotted Chaser 3192    (14 photos)
2025-05-26    Store Hareskov (Furesø), Denmark

Exuvia
Jagtvejssøen-vest. Found 40 cm above the water in a patch of cattails. Two different animals (photo 5 and 13 one animal and the rest the other).
Bulky mask; Small separate eyes; Head from above parallel sides; Side-spines on S9 don't reach the appendages; Back-spines on S8 and S9; Cerci half as long as paraprocts or more; Size.


Exuvia
Four-spotted Chaser 3285    (10 photos)
2025-06-11    Toggerup Tørvemose (Grib skov), Denmark

Exuvia
Bulky mask; Regularly toothed labial palps; Cerci more than half length of paraprocts; No Back spine on S9; Side spine of S9 not reaching appendages; Size and shape. This is a very vaguely marked exuvia, I think. With only one well-marked back-spine (S6) and practically no side-spines.

I had hoped it to be one of the whitefaces, but apparently they can all be ruled out by no showing any dark markings on the underside of the abdomen.

Exuvia