Widow Skimmer
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| Libellula luctuosa (Burmeister, 1839) |
The Widow Skimmer is 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 marked with prominent black basal bands. Adult males develop broad white spots at midwing.
This dragonfly got the "widow" name because the male stays 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.
