Widow Skimmer
Libellula luctuosa
The name 'widow' comes from the dark, mourning-like bands on its wings, while 'skimmer' refers to its low, gliding flight pattern over the water's surface.
- Scientific name
- Libellula luctuosa
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Odonata › Libellulidae › Libellula
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Ponds, lakes, marshes, temporary pools, and slow-moving streams with muddy bottoms.
- Diet
- Carnivorous; feeds on flying insects such as mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and aphids.
- Range
- United States, Southern Canada
- Size
- Body length of 42-50 mm (1.6-2 in) with a wingspan of 70-80 mm (2.7-3.1 in).
- Lifespan
- 1 to 2 months as a flying adult; up to 1 year as an aquatic nymph.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss due to wetland drainage, water pollution from agricultural runoff, and widespread pesticide use.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to humans. They lack stings and will only bite if held tightly, which is easily avoided. Appreciate them from any distance as they hunt mosquitoes. If pinched, wash the area with soap and water.
Widow Skimmer ( Libellula luctuosa ) is one of the group of dragonflies known as king skimmers. 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.
Photo: Rodney Campbell, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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