I love the distinctive wing markings on male Widow Skimmer dragonflies, one of only a few dragonfly species that I have encountered with both light and dark patches on their wings. I spotted this handsome male Widow Skimmer last week during a brief visit to Occoquan Regional Park in Lorton, Virginia.
One of the cool things about this dragonfly is that it looks almost like a butterfly when it is flying. With most dragonflies, the transparent wings seem to almost disappear when they are flying, but with the male Widow Skimmer, the wings are much more visible when the dragonfly is in motion.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Oh, I love that he looks like a butterfly in flight! I know what you mean, Mike,…I must’ve seen one like this at my visit to a conservation center as I had a similar thought on how I could “see” him! Great captures, like always!!
Thanks. The only other dragonfly that comes to mind with bi-colored wings is the Twelve-spotted Skimmer, like this one that I photographed in 2021. https://michaelqpowell.com/2021/05/31/twelve-spotted-skimmer-2/
You’re welcome! The twelve-spotted skimmer is beautiful! You inspire me to look closer at them! They have such meaning to me!
Indeed very special Mike, never seen one like this.