Widow Skimmer in Howard Co., Maryland (7/25/2021). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 419669 - Psn: 5)

Widow Skimmer in Howard Co., Maryland (7/25/2021). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Emilio Concari MBP List

Widow Skimmer in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/1/2019). (c) wimper, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 178819 - Psn: 6)

Widow Skimmer in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/1/2019). (c) wimper, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by wimper via iNaturalist MBP List

A Widow Skimmer in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/27/2014).

View Record Details Photo by Mark Etheridge MBP List

A male Widow Skimmer in Harford Co., Maryland (8/18/2017).

View Record Details Photo by Mark Johnson MBP List

A female Widow Skimmer in Baltimore City, Maryland (7/17/2014).

Photo by Mike Hudson MBP List

A male Widow Skimmer in Carroll Co., Maryland (8/11/2018).

View Record Details Photo by Jim Moore MBP List

A Widow Skimmer in Washington Co., Maryland (6/24/2018).

View Record Details Photo by Frode Jacobsen MBP List

A male Widow Skimmer in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/6/2008).

Photo by Jim Brighton MBP List

A female Widow Skimmer in Washington Co., Maryland (7/18/2014). Verified by Larry de March/BugGuide.

View Record Details Photo by Mark Etheridge MBP List

A male Widow Skimmer in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/28/2013). Determined by John and Jane Balaban.

View Record Details Photo by Barbara Thurlow MBP List

Widow Skimmer in Cecil Co., Maryland (8/11/2022). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 625454 - Psn: 52)

Widow Skimmer in Cecil Co., Maryland (8/11/2022). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Jonathan Irons MBP List

Widow Skimmer in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/27/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 198935 - Psn: 55)

Widow Skimmer in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/27/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist MBP List

Widow Skimmer in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/16/2018). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/'>CC BY</a>). (Photo ID: 237563 - Psn: 72)

Widow Skimmer in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/16/2018). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY).

View Record Details Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist MBP List

A Widow Skimmer in Charles Co., Maryland (6/14/2020).

View Record Details Photo by Frode Jacobsen MBP List

Widow Skimmer in Charles Co., Maryland (8/2/2021). (c) celastrina, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 428106 - Psn: 76)

Widow Skimmer in Charles Co., Maryland (8/2/2021). (c) celastrina, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by celastrina via iNaturalist MBP List

Widow Skimmer in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/13/2025). (c) fireweaver, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 1306444 - Psn: 200)

Widow Skimmer in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/13/2025). (c) fireweaver, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by fireweaver via iNaturalist MBP List

Widow Skimmer in Carroll Co., Maryland (6/30/2025). (c) Tom Field, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/'>CC BY</a>). (Photo ID: 1307127 - Psn: 200)

Widow Skimmer in Carroll Co., Maryland (6/30/2025). (c) Tom Field, some rights reserved (CC BY).

View Record Details Photo by Tom Feild MBP List

Widow Skimmer in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/19/2025). (c) hlinak, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 1307462 - Psn: 200)

Widow Skimmer in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/19/2025). (c) hlinak, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by hlinak via iNaturalist MBP List

Widow Skimmer in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/19/2025). (c) bbuzas, some rights reserved (<a rel='license' href='http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/'>CC BY-NC</a>). (Photo ID: 1307468 - Psn: 200)

Widow Skimmer in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/19/2025). (c) bbuzas, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

View Record Details Photo by bbuzas via iNaturalist MBP List

Widow Skimmer in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/1/2019). (c) T Duffy, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

View Record Details Photo by wimper via iNaturalist MBP List

Widow Skimmer in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/19/2014). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

View Record Details Photo by Frode Jacobsen MBP List

Widow Skimmer in Montgomery Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) the knower, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

View Record Details Photo by the_knower via iNaturalist MBP List

Widow Skimmer in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/1/2020). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

View Record Details Photo by Frode Jacobsen MBP List

Map Snapshot

2,029 Records

GA AL WA FR CL MO HO BA BC HA CE PG AA CV CH SM KE QA CN TA DO WI SO WO

Status

The distinctive Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) is a beautiful and common skimmer, found in a large variety of habitats, including ponds and lakes, and stream pools, especially those with a muddy substrate. This dragonfly has been recorded from every county in Maryland, and is considered common by Richard Orr (The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Maryland and the District of Columbia).

Seasonality Summary

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Resources

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Citations

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Use of media featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

Widow Skimmer in Howard Co., Maryland (7/25/2021). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Emilio Concari.

Widow Skimmer in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/1/2019). (c) wimper, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by wimper via iNaturalist.

A Widow Skimmer in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/27/2014). View Record Details Media by Mark Etheridge.

A male Widow Skimmer in Harford Co., Maryland (8/18/2017). View Record Details Media by Mark Johnson.

A female Widow Skimmer in Baltimore City, Maryland (7/17/2014). Media by Mike Hudson.

A male Widow Skimmer in Carroll Co., Maryland (8/11/2018). View Record Details Media by Jim Moore.

A Widow Skimmer in Washington Co., Maryland (6/24/2018). View Record Details Media by Frode Jacobsen.

A male Widow Skimmer in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/6/2008). Media by Jim Brighton.

A female Widow Skimmer in Washington Co., Maryland (7/18/2014). Verified by Larry de March/BugGuide. View Record Details Media by Mark Etheridge.

A male Widow Skimmer in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/28/2013). Determined by John and Jane Balaban. View Record Details Media by Barbara Thurlow.

Widow Skimmer in Cecil Co., Maryland (8/11/2022). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Jonathan Irons.

Widow Skimmer in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/27/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist.

Widow Skimmer in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/16/2018). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). View Record Details Media by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist.

A Widow Skimmer in Charles Co., Maryland (6/14/2020). View Record Details Media by Frode Jacobsen.

Widow Skimmer in Charles Co., Maryland (8/2/2021). (c) celastrina, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by celastrina via iNaturalist.

Widow Skimmer in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/13/2025). (c) fireweaver, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by fireweaver via iNaturalist.

Widow Skimmer in Carroll Co., Maryland (6/30/2025). (c) Tom Field, some rights reserved (CC BY). View Record Details Media by Tom Feild.

Widow Skimmer in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/19/2025). (c) hlinak, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by hlinak via iNaturalist.

Widow Skimmer in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/19/2025). (c) bbuzas, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). View Record Details Media by bbuzas via iNaturalist.

Widow Skimmer in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/1/2019). (c) T Duffy, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) View Record Details Media by wimper via iNaturalist.

Widow Skimmer in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/19/2014). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) View Record Details Media by Frode Jacobsen.

Widow Skimmer in Montgomery Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) the knower, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) View Record Details Media by the_knower via iNaturalist.

Widow Skimmer in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/1/2020). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) View Record Details Media by Frode Jacobsen.