Widow Skimmer

Libellula luctuosa

Summary 6

The Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) is one of the group of dragonflies known as King Skimmers. The species can be found commonly across much of the United States (except in the higher Rocky Mountains areas) and in southern Ontario and Quebec. Adults have a steely blue body area but juveniles are yellow with brown stipes. Wings of both sexes are marked with prominent black basal bands. Adult males develop broad white spots at midwing. The nymphs...

Widow skimmer 7

The widow skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) is one of the group of dragonflies known as king skimmers. The species can be found commonly across much of the United States (except in the higher Rocky Mountains areas) and in southern Ontario and Quebec.[1] Adults have a steely blue body area but juveniles are yellow with brown stipes.[2] Wings of both sexes are marked with prominent black basal bands. Adult males develop broad white spots at midwing. 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.

juvenile male

References[edit]

  1. ^Mead, Kurt. 2009. Dragonflies of the North Woods, Duluth:Kollath+Stensaas.
  2. ^Dunkle, S.W. 2000. Dragonflies through Binoculars, Toronto:Oxford University press.

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) John Wright, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/37562601@N00/617981485
  2. (c) Sterling Sheehy, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sterling Sheehy
  3. (c) Judith Lopez Sikora, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JYAPJXg8oPU/UhzmvbQ8oAI/AAAAAAAAewY/B0jeMDiSPK0/P1110563.JPG
  4. (c) David Yeany, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by David Yeany
  5. (c) Liam O'Brien, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Liam O'Brien
  6. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libellula_luctuosa
  7. (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31854152

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