Two Widow Skimmers

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Two Widow Skimmers

June 25, 2021 by Mike Powell

Most of the Widow Skimmer dragonflies (Libellula luctuosa) that I have seen this season have been immature males, like the one in the second photo below that I spotted on Wednesday at Occoquan Regional Park. When they are that young, their colors and wing markings match those of their female siblings.

As they mature, however, the males develop the additional white patches on their wings that are simply spectacular, like those of the mature male Widow Skimmer in the first photo that I spotted later that same day. Their bodies also turn blue and with varying degrees of pruinosity, the dusty looking coating on their abdomens that gives them a frosted look. (According to the Educalingo website, the word pruinose comes “from Latin pruīnōsus frost-covered, from pruīna hoarfrost.”)

We have moved into the lazy days of the summer, when dragonflies are now a frequent sight at most of the ponds in our area. Hopefully you are seeing them too. Most of those dragonflies are probably from the skimmer family, a large group of dragonflies in which many species tend to be habitat generalists. I will certainly be photographing lots of skimmers, but will also be keeping an eye out for more uncommon species, like the Cyrano Darner that I featured yesterday.

Posted in Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 50D, Libellula luctuosa, Lorton VA, male Widow Skimmer, Occoquan Regional Park, Tamron 180mm, Widow Skimmer, Widow Skimmer dragonfly | 14 Comments

14 Responses

on June 25, 2021 at 6:59 am | Reply shoreacres

I know I’ve seen this species. Those wings are eye-catching.
- on June 25, 2021 at 7:38 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  When they are flying, Widow Skimmers remind me a lot of butterflies. With most other dragonflies, you don’t really see the transparent wings and consequently they appear to be smaller in size.
on June 25, 2021 at 7:29 am | Reply Dan Antion

I read the opening sentence to my wife. She suggested that “immature males” is redundant.

Great image, Mike. Have a nice weekend.
- on June 25, 2021 at 7:36 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I think a lot of folks would agree with your wife’s comment. I am often prompted to go off on similar tangent when someone uses “mature” as a euphemism for “old.” My warped sense of humor definitely prompts others to call into question my maturity. 🙂
  - on June 25, 2021 at 9:46 am Dan Antion
    
    A sense of humor is essential, Mike.
  - on June 25, 2021 at 4:30 pm Mike Powell
    
    Amen to that.
on June 25, 2021 at 7:46 am | Reply peterawriter

Quite spectacular!
on June 25, 2021 at 9:04 am | Reply Laura (PA Pict)

Beautiful. There is an almost metallic quality, with a kind of patina, that this dragonfly makes me think of an Art Nouveau brooch.
- on June 25, 2021 at 4:27 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Laura. I definitely see that patina, which struck me as being almost bronze-like.
on June 25, 2021 at 2:20 pm | Reply Alessandra Chaves

gorgeous!
- on June 25, 2021 at 4:31 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Alessandra.
on June 25, 2021 at 6:04 pm | Reply sv-anui.com

Beautiful wings… love the frost effect!
on June 28, 2021 at 8:39 am | Reply Reed Andariese

Very Nice Mike! Enjoyed seeing your Widow Skimmer images!
- on June 28, 2021 at 9:59 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Reed. It’s always cool to spot dragonflies with patterned wings, especially when they are multi-colored like those of the male Widow Skimmer.