Arrowhead Spiketail vs Widow Skimmer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arrowhead Spiketail | Widow Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cordulegaster obliqua | Libellula luctuosa |
| Order | Odonata | Odonata |
| Family | Cordulegastridae | Libellulidae |
| Size | 70-80 mm | 60-68 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Omnivores | Predators |
| Regions | North America | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Arrowhead Spiketail
A large spiketail dragonfly with arrowhead-shaped yellow markings along its dark abdomen. It is found along seepage-fed streams in eastern North American forests.
Did You Know?
Females can insert eggs directly into hard-packed stream gravel using their spike-like ovipositor.
Widow Skimmer
A distinctive dragonfly with broad dark wing patches at the base and white bands beyond them in mature males. Females and young males lack the white bands.
Did You Know?
The widow skimmer gets its somber common name from the dark mourning-veil-like patches on the wings of females.