Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) is a member of the Skimmer Family of dragonflies that is spotted during the summer and fall months at many water bodies in the mid-Atlantic United States, such as the wetlands at Huntley Meadows Park and ponds at Meadowood Recreation Area.
Widow Skimmers display sexual dimorphism. Although mature males and females look different, immature males and females look similar. Terminal appendages may be used to differentiate immature males from females.
Female dragonflies have a pair of cerci (superior appendages) that have little or no function.
15 AUG 2013 | Meadowood Recreation Area | Widow Skimmer (female)
Immature male Widow Skimmers and immature/adult female Widow Skimmers are nearly identical in appearance except for their terminal appendages.
06 JUN 2015 | Huntley Meadows Park | Widow Skimmer (immature male)
Male dragonflies have three terminal appendages, collectively called “claspers,” that are used to grab and hold female dragonflies during mating: an upper pair of cerci (“superior appendages”) and a lower unpaired epiproct (“inferior appendage”).
15 AUG 2013 | Meadowood Recreation Area | Widow Skimmer (male)
Digital Dragonflies: presenting high-resolution digital scans of living dragonflies.
- Genus Libellula | Libellula luctuosa | Widow Skimmer | male | top view
- Genus Libellula | Libellula luctuosa | Widow Skimmer | male | side view
- Genus Libellula | Libellula luctuosa | Widow Skimmer | female | top view
- Genus Libellula | Libellula luctuosa | Widow Skimmer | female | side view
Related Resources: Odonate Terminal Appendages.
Copyright © 2015 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: claspers, female, head-tilt, Hidden Pond, Huntley Meadows Park, immature male, Libellula luctuosa, male, Meadowood Recreation Area, Skimmer Family, terminal appendages, vernal pool, Widow Skimmer dragonfly
walter sanford's photoblog 
October 10, 2016 at 4:10 am |
[…] The following individuals are males, as indicated by the pattern of wing spots and their terminal appendages. […]
October 12, 2016 at 4:12 am |
[…] A Widow Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula luctuosa) was spotted at Mason Neck West Park, Fairfax County, Virginia USA. This individual is a female, as indicated by the pattern of wing spots and her terminal appendages. […]
February 25, 2017 at 4:03 am |
[…] first photo features a mature male, as indicated by his coloration, pattern of wing spots, and terminal appendages. This individual has mated many times, as shown by scratches on the white pruinescence covering his […]
July 29, 2017 at 5:26 am |
[…] birds). A good way to separate the sexes is by their terminal appendages, as nicely illustrated in this post by Walter Sanford. The female has two, while the male has three. In order to determine this, one needs a clear […]
July 29, 2017 at 11:28 am |
Walter, could I email you one of my other images of this individual for your opinion? When enlarged, the photo appears to show something protruding from beneath the tip of the abdomen. That was what I thought could be an epiproct. It’s not visible in the image on my blog. Thanks for the ID assistance.
July 29, 2017 at 1:15 pm |
I think it would be better to include the photo as a comment on your post.
July 30, 2017 at 11:19 am |
Okay, I didn’t realize I could add a photo in a comment. It’s there now but the URL adds some auto-resize text, so you’ll need to use this URL to see the full resolution:
July 30, 2017 at 2:46 pm |
The dragonfly is definitely female. It appears some excrement is hanging from the tip of her abdomen. Hey, excrement happens! 😉 https://waltersanford.wordpress.com/2013/08/20/widow-skimmer-dragonfly-female/
August 16, 2017 at 4:01 am |
[…] Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Prince William County, Virginia USA. This individual is a female, as indicated by her terminal […]
July 4, 2018 at 4:00 am |
[…] 24 JUN 2018 | Occoquan Regional Park | Widow Skimmer (immature male) […]
January 2, 2019 at 4:02 am |
[…] 24 JUN 2018 | Occoquan Regional Park | Widow Skimmer (immature male) […]