Shadowdamsel vs Widow Skimmer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Shadowdamsel | Widow Skimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Palaemnema paulicoba | Libellula luctuosa |
| Order | Odonata | Odonata |
| Family | Platystictidae | Libellulidae |
| Size | 35-42 mm | 60-68 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Central America | North America |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
Shadowdamsel
A delicate damselfly that lives in deep shade along tropical forest streams.
Did You Know?
It is restricted to pristine forested waterways and disappears when canopy is removed.
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.