Posts Tagged: widow skimmer

The Day a Widow Skimmer Came Calling

Just as all lady bugs aren't ladies, all widow skimmer dragonflies aren't female. A mature male Libellula luctuosa, aka “Widow Skimmer," (as identified by Bohart Museum of Entomology associate and dragonfly expert Greg Kareofelas), recently...

A mature male Libellula luctuosa, aka “Widow Skimmer," perches on a bamboo stake in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A mature male Libellula luctuosa, aka “Widow Skimmer," perches on a bamboo stake in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A strong gust of wind pushed the widow skimmer's wings below its body. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A strong gust of wind pushed the widow skimmer's wings below its body. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of mature male Libellula luctuosa, aka “Widow Skimmer." This one was recently mated. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of mature male Libellula luctuosa, aka “Widow Skimmer." This one was recently mated.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Don't You Just Love Those Dragonflies?

Don't you just love those dragonflies? We watch them circle our fish pond, grab flying insects in mid-air, and then touch down on a bamboo stake in our yard to eat them. Some dragonflies stay for hours; others for what seems like half a second. Some let...

Red flame skimmer or firecracker skimmer (Libellula saturata). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Red flame skimmer or firecracker skimmer (Libellula saturata). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Variegated meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Variegated meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Widow skimmer (Libellula luctuosa). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Widow skimmer (Libellula luctuosa). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Red-veined meadowhawk (Sympetrium madidum). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Red-veined meadowhawk (Sympetrium madidum). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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