Widow Skimmer

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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.

[edit] Other photos

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