The 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.
Anatomy and morphology
Widow skimmers have large bulky bodies, with large heads. Adults have a steely blue body area but juveniles are yellow with brown stripes. Eyes are also large and close together meeting in the middle of the head.
They have three pairs of legs. Legs are black in color. They have two pairs of wings: forewings and hindwings. Wings of both sexes are marked with prominent black basal bands. They keep their wings extended over their bodies. Adult males develop broad white spots at midwing as they mature. The abdomen measures 24–32 mm. They also have a slight white hue on their abdomen and thorax.
Distribution
This species can be found commonly across the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
(except in the higher
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico in ...
areas) and in southern
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
and
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
.
Habitat
This species is found commonly in muddy substrates, or still bodies of waters such as ponds, lakes, streams, and creeks.
Behavior
They are predators that prey on other insects such as mosquitoes.
They catch their prey using their legs and use their fangs to bring prey into their mouth.
The process of reproduction is known as "in tandem." Position themselves to form a wheel or heart shape before sperm is transferred.
Lake Ann, Michigan
Lake Ann is a village in northeastern Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Part of Almira Township, Lake Ann is situated west of Traverse City, and largely dependent upon that city. The population of Lake Ann was 273 at the 2020 census. ...
File:Libellula luctuosa-female.jpg, Female a
Schulenberg Prairie
File:Libellula luctuosa-mating.jpg, Mating wheel: female is below male
Herrick Lake Forest Preserve
References
External links
*
Libellulidae
Odonata of North America
Insects of Canada
Insects described in 1839
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