copied from [[Widow skimmer]]
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) is one of the largest group of dragonflies family known as skimmers.[1] It belongs to the order Odonata, Greek word for "toothed." [1]
Anatomy and Morphology edit
Widow skimmers have large bulky bodies, with a large head.[1] Eyes are also large and close together meeting in the middle of the head.[1] They have three pairs of legs.[1] They have two pairs of wings: forewings and hindwings.[1] Females and males have thick black bands on all wings.[2] Mature males have outer white bands present in all wings.[2] The pterothorax in females is pale yellow obscured with brown and in males a powdery blue.[2] The abdomen measures 24-32 mm in length.[2] They have a waxy coating on wings and abdomen called pruinosity.[3]
Distribution edit
This species can be found across North America reach: the United States (except in the higher Rocky Mountains areas) south across the Mexican border, southern Canada (Ontario, Manitoba, Novia Scotia, and Quebec). [4][3][5][6]
Habitat edit
Found in a variety of still bodies of water (and muddy substrates) habitats such as: ponds, lakes, lagoon, streams, and creeks.[1][6][5]
Diet edit
Widow skimmers are predators that prey on other insects such as mosquitoes.[1][7] They catch their prey using their legs and then they use their teeth to bring prey into their mouth.[1][7] Help regulate insects and other pest in their habitat. [6] Larvae are aquatic and also predators. [8]
Behavior edit
The process of reproduction is known as "in tandem." They position themselves to form a wheel or heart shape before sperm is transferred.[1][7] Male widow skimmer will 'widow' the female widow skimmer as she lays her eggs in the water.[5]
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- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Common Dragonflies and Damselflies of Maryland". dnr2.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ^ a b c d "OdonataCentral". www.odonatacentral.org. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ^ a b "Libellula luctuosa, widow skimmer: brief facts, taxonomy, images and video at GeoChemBio". www.geochembio.com. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
- ^ Mead, Kurt. 2009. Dragonflies of the North Woods, Duluth:Kollath+Stensaas.
- ^ a b c "Widow Skimmer Bug Information". Retrieved 2017-04-26.
- ^ a b c "Maryland Biodiversity Project - Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa)". www.marylandbiodiversity.com. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ^ a b c "dragonfly | insect". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ^ St. Clair and Fuller, C.R. and C.A. (February 2014). "Atrazine Exposure Increases Time Until Cannibalistic Response in the Widow Skimmer Dragonfly ( Libellula Luctuosa)". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 92: 113–117.