Comet Darner vs Widow Skimmer

Anax longipes compared with Libellula luctuosa

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Comet Darner	Widow Skimmer
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order same	Odonata (Odonata)	Odonata (Odonata)
Family	Aeshnidae	Libellulidae
Genus	Anax	Libellula
Species	Anax longipes	Libellula luctuosa

Evolutionary Relationship

Comet Darner and Widow Skimmer share a common ancestor at the Order level: Odonata. (Odonata)

View Order: Odonata

Conservation Status

Comet Darner

LC — Least Concern

Widow Skimmer

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Comet Darner	Widow Skimmer
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Comet Darner

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found in United States.

Widow Skimmer

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found in United States.

Comet Darner

<em>Anax longipes</em>, the comet darner, is a large dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae, assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is endemic to the United States, where it inhabits lakes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers with clear water and abundant emergent vegetation. The comet darner is one of the largest North American dragonflies and is distinguished by its brilliant coloration, including a green thorax and a red-spotted abdomen in mature males. The species name longipes refers to its notably long legs. Adults are powerful aerial predators, feeding on a variety of flying insects captured in flight. Larvae are aquatic and predatory, developing in the benthic zone of freshwater habitats where they feed on invertebrates and small vertebrates. The comet darner undertakes seasonal dispersal movements and is most commonly observed near its breeding water bodies during the warmer months.