Widow Skimmer

Dorsal view of a Widow Skimmer with dark basal wing patches and yellow abdominal stripes

Dark Wings, Golden Lines
Close portrait of a Widow Skimmer resting on a water-beaded leaf

Beads on the Blade
Side view of a Widow Skimmer perched on a pale diagonal stem

Poised on the Diagonal
Mature male Widow Skimmer among wet grasses with white-banded wings and a blue abdomen

White Bands in the Wetland
Close view of a Widow Skimmer looking around a slender vertical stem

A Look Around the Stem

Libellula luctuosa

The Widow Skimmer is a broad-winged dragonfly recognized by the large dark patches at the bases of all four wings. Females and immature males have brown bodies with yellow stripes along the abdomen and lack the pale wing patches of mature males. With age, males develop a blue-gray pruinose body and broad white bands beyond the dark wing bases. Often found around ponds and lakes, Widow Skimmers also rest in grasses, shrubs, and open vegetation along wetland edges.

For identification details and comparison with similar species, see Libellula luctuosa in the Field Notes section.

Dorsal view of a Widow Skimmer with dark basal wing patches and yellow abdominal stripes

Dark Wings, Golden Lines
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Settings: ISO 3200 • Aperture f/8.0 • Shutter 1/160 s
E22A6697 • Size: 6720 x 4480

A dorsal view reveals the Widow Skimmer's nearly symmetrical wings, broad dark basal patches, fine venation, and paired yellow lines running the length of the abdomen.

Close portrait of a Widow Skimmer resting on a water-beaded leaf

Beads on the Blade
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Settings: ISO 3200 • Aperture f/8.0 • Shutter 1/160 s
E22A6722 • Size: 4400 x 2933

A close side portrait follows a Widow Skimmer along a water-beaded leaf, bringing the reflective eyes, bronze thorax, gripping legs, dark wing bases, and delicate outer venation into view.

Side view of a Widow Skimmer perched on a pale diagonal stem

Poised on the Diagonal
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Settings: ISO 6400 • Aperture f/6.3 • Shutter 1/160 s
E22A6698 • Size: 4400 x 2933

Perched on a pale diagonal stem, a Widow Skimmer holds its wings at changing angles while the yellow abdominal markings trace a bright line through the softly blurred green surroundings.

Close view of a Widow Skimmer looking around a slender vertical stem

A Look Around the Stem
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Lens: EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Settings: ISO 3200 • Aperture f/8.0 • Shutter 1/160 s
E22A6720 • Size: 4400 x 2933

Partly concealed by a slender stem, a Widow Skimmer turns toward the camera, emphasizing the rounded compound eyes, pale face, dark wing bands, and long legs wrapped around the perch.

Mature male Widow Skimmer among wet grasses with white-banded wings and a blue abdomen

White Bands in the Wetland
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Lens: EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM +2x
Settings: ISO 200 • Aperture f/8.0 • Shutter 1/80 s
E21A1832 • Size: 5200 x 3467

A mature male rests among wet grasses, showing the blue-pruinose abdomen and broad white wing bands that develop beyond the dark basal patches and distinguish him from females and younger males.