Widow skimmer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Widow skimmer |
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| Male | |
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| adult female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
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| Family: |
Libellulidae
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| Genus: |
Libellula
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| Species: |
L. luctuosa
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| Binomial name | |
| Libellula luctuosa Burmeister, 1839
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The Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) is a type of dragonfly. It's part of a group called "king skimmers." These amazing insects start their lives in the water as young forms called nymphs. They grow and shed their skin many times. Finally, they come out of the water and shed their skin one last time to become adult dragonflies with wings.
Contents
What They Look Like
Widow Skimmers have big, strong bodies and large heads. Their eyes are also big and meet in the middle of their head. They have three pairs of black legs.
Wings and Colors
These dragonflies have two pairs of wings: front wings and back wings. Both male and female wings have clear black bands near their bodies. They always hold their wings out flat.
Adult males become a shiny blue color. They also grow wide white spots in the middle of their wings as they get older. Young Widow Skimmers are yellow with brown stripes. Their bodies are about 24 to 32 millimeters long. They also have a light white color on their middle body part (thorax) and tail (abdomen).
Where They Live
You can find Widow Skimmers in many parts of the United States. They are not found in the higher Rocky Mountains. They also live in southern Ontario and Quebec in Canada.
Their Home
These dragonflies often live near still water. This includes muddy ponds, lakes, streams, and creeks.
How They Behave
Widow Skimmers are predators. This means they hunt and eat other insects. They often catch mosquitoes. They use their legs to grab their prey. Then, they use their mouthparts to eat.
Reproduction
The way Widow Skimmers reproduce is called "in tandem." The male and female dragonflies connect their bodies. They form a shape that looks like a wheel or a heart. After this, the male transfers sperm to the female.
Images for kids
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Male at Lake Ann, Michigan
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Female at Schulenberg Prairie
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Mating wheel: female is below male. Herrick Lake Forest Preserve
See also
In Spanish: Libélula viuda para niños
