Like the Common Whitetail, Widow Skimmer males are different from females.  Males have blue stripes and two dark "saddles" on the wings and a splash of blue color on the abdomen.  Females' wing color is similar to the males, but the abdomen is a plain brown.  Like all dragonflies, Widow Skimmers are predatory, feeding on a wide variety of flying insects, including mosquitos.  Some even eat other dragonflies.  All spend the larval stage as an aquatic nymph known as a naiad.  These larvae are also predatory, feeding on small fish, mosquito larvae, and tadpoles.  Naiads are a cherished bait item for many fishermen.  Although some species of dragonfly are mostly resident, some are migratory and gather in the same migration "hot spots" as birds and butterflies.