NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE:

Number of records for 2024 = 48

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Distinctive
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Note: these identification tips apply specifically to mature males; features may differ in immature males and in females.

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Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Widow Skimmer

Flight Charts

Distribution

Essentially statewide; only two extreme eastern Coastal Plain counties lack records. Presumably present in all counties.

Abundance

Generally very common in the Piedmont and lower mountains; fairly common in the western Coastal Plain, though numbers decrease toward the coast, such that it is scarce in the eastern counties. Common in the middle elevations of the mountains. One of the more numerous dragonflies in the mountain province.

Flight

Downstate, early or mid-April to mid-October, but not numerous until late May. In the mountains, the flight is from mid-May to late September, sparingly to mid-October.

Habitat

Typical breeding sites as for other skimmers -- ponds, small lakes, marshes, and pools.

See also Habitat Account for General Pond Shorelines

Behavior

Unlike most other skimmers, this species typically moves away from water to spend most of its time foraging in fields, powerline clearings, woodland borders, and other sunny to partly sunny places. Adults often perch on twigs of woody plants or on herbaceous vegetation, in such open areas.

Comments

This might be the "flashiest" of our skimmers, as they are quite common, perch in open places within easy view, and have bold wing patterns. The wide black and frosted white bands of the male are impossible to miss when on the wing. Numbers of the species are seldom large at any given locale, as they seem territorial, and swarms are not generally noted. Nonetheless, it can occasionally be the most often seen dragonfly on a Piedmont walk, especially away from pond margins.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-16 18:00:02

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Widow Skimmer 43 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-07-22, Lock & Dam #2, Elizabethtown, NC - 11:54A along river banks		Photo 2 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-07-15, Lock &
	Photo 3 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Avery, 2024-07-13, Mill Pond - At pond edge on vegetation		Photo 4 by: Amy G. Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-05-28 by the boat ramp, - 1:26PM, Elwell Ferry Ramp, Kelly, NC
	Photo 5 by: Nora Murdock, Keith Langdon, Robert Emmott Comment: Swain, 2021-07-06,		Photo 6 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Watauga, 2020-08-01, Brookshire Park
	Photo 7 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-01, Winston Lake - 15 adult males		Photo 8 by: Mark Shields Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-25, Pond beside Breedlove Road, 5 km northeast of Cashiers
	Photo 9 by: Mark Shields Comment: Craven, 2018-06-16, Swift Creek; 7 km section between Cool Springs Boating Access Area and NC 43 bridge, by kayak		Photo 10 by: Mark Shields Comment: Chowan, 2018-06-09, Edenton National Fish Hatchery
	Photo 11 by: Mark Shields Comment: Edgecombe, 2018-05-25, Etheridge Pond, Tar River Game Land		Photo 12 by: Mark Shields Comment: Duplin, 2017-09-03, Northeast Cape Fear River, Kenansville Boating Access Area
	Photo 13 by: Mark Shields Comment: Lenoir, 2017-08-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston		Photo 14 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Watauga, 2017-07-17, Boone Greenway-created wetland area
	Photo 15 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2017-06-11, Owen Park, Warren Wilson College - Female and Male		Photo 16 by: Barbara McRae Comment: Macon, 2017-06-12, Franklin, Little Tennessee River, wetland near Greenway - Perched in wetland near river
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields Comment: Rutherford; P, 2017-06-02, Morse Park, Lake Lure		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2017-05-29, Stones Creek Game Land
	Photo 19 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Avery, 2015-07-03, Banner Elk Greenway Trail		Photo 20 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Wilkes; M, 2015-06-16, WRC fishing put-in on Triplett Rd. - foraging away from water
	Photo 21 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Cherokee, 2015-06-15, Cherokee Lake (a dammed creek arm of Hiwassee Lake)		Photo 22 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Onslow, 2014-06-29 - Seen at retention pond and along New River
	Photo 23 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Jones, 2014-06-22 - Two males spotted at Brocks Mill		Photo 24 by: Dick Thomas Comment: Guilford, 2013-07-22, Piedmont Environmental Center, High Point - patrolling over Sunnyvale Rd
	Photo 25 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton Comment: Graham, 2013-07-16, Tulula Bog - Male & Female		Photo 26 by: Nancy Cowal Comment: McDowell; M, 2012-08-31, Old Fort, submitted by Vin Stanton - Male & Female
	Photo 27 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston, Simon Thompson Comment: Polk; P, 2012-08-04, Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) - Male & Female		Photo 28 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Durham, 2012-06-13, Quail Roost - young male
	Photo 29 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Madison, 2012-06-08, Leach pond, close to Sandy Mush Game Land		Photo 30 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Transylvania, 2011-08-19, Brevard - Male & Female