About Libellula luctuosa Burmeister, 1839
Widow skimmers, Libellula luctuosa Burmeister, 1839, have large, bulky bodies and large heads. Their large eyes are positioned close together, meeting at the center of the head. They have three pairs of black legs and two pairs of wings, which are forewings and hindwings. Both sexes have prominent black basal bands on their wings, and they hold their wings extended over their bodies. As they mature, adult males grow broad white spots at the midwing. Adult widow skimmers have a steely blue body, while juveniles are yellow with brown stripes. Adults also have a slight white hue on the abdomen and thorax, and the abdomen measures 24–32 mm. This species is commonly found across most of the United States, excluding higher elevation areas of the Rocky Mountains, as well as in southern Ontario and southern Quebec. It typically inhabits areas with muddy substrates near still or slow-moving water bodies including ponds, lakes, streams, and creeks.
