Widow Skimmer
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Hexapoda Class: Insecta Order: Odonata Suborder: Anisoptera Family: Libellulidae Genus: Libellula Species: L. luctuosa
Binomial name
Libellula luctuosa (Burmeister, 1839)

The Widow Skimmer is one of the group of dragonflies known as King Skimmers. The species occurs commonly across much of the United States except in the higher Rocky Mountains areas.

It has a steely blue body area. Wings of both sexes are marked with prominent black basal bands. Adult males develop broad white spots at midwing.

This dragonfly got the "widow" name because the male doesn't stay near the female after she lays the eggs unlike other species.^{citation needed} The nymphs live in the water, molting and growing until they are ready to emerge from the water and then molting a final time to reveal their wings.

An adult male, with white wing bands

Female

Other photos

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Libellula luctuosa

• University of Puget Sound
• Greg Lasley Nature Photography
• University of Wisconsin