Aeshnidae - Darners, Hawkers |
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 This family includes the largest species of dragonflies found in North America and Europe. They range in size from 2-5 inches in length. Most species are around 3 inches in length. They are known as darners in North America because the female's abdomen looks like a sewing needle when she cuts into plant stems to lay her eggs.
Darners have long, thin abdomens; four transparent wings; and large, round, compound eyes that meet at the top of their head. Most species are blue or green or a combination of blue and green.
Darners hunt and eat other insects. They spend most of their time during the day flying and looking for prey. Males can be very territorial and will chase away other males. The dragonflies in this family are very fast fliers and can fly backwards and forwards and can hover in the air like a helicopter.
Darner naiads (immature dragonflies) are long and slender. They move through the water by squirting water out of their abdomens. They climb over submerged vegetation hunting for food. They eat mosquito larvae, damselfly and dragonfly nymphs, tadpoles, and small fish. When a naiad is the right size, it crawls up on a plant stem, its skin splits, and a dragonfly emerges. To avoid predators, naiads usually do this at night.
 Aeshnidae Photo Gallery World Status Key
 Least Concern  Near Threatened  Vulnerable  Endangered  Critically Endangered  Extinct in Wild  Extinct  Not Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.
U.S. Status Key
 Threatened in US  Endangered in US  Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife. Click on U.S. status icon to go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife species profile.
New Hampshire Status Key
 Threatened in NH  Endangered in NH  Breeds in NH (birds)
Status taken from NH Fish and Game
Location Key
 Africa  Asia  Australia/Oceania  Europe  North America  South America  NH
More Info
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Resource Key
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New Hampshire Species
Black-tipped Darner - Aeshna tuberculifera
Canada Darner - Aeshna canadensis
Green-striped Darner - Aeshna verticalis
Lake Darner - Aeshna eremita
Lance-tipped Darner - Aeshna constricta
Mottled Darner - Aeshna clepsydra
Sedge Darner - Aeshna juncea
Shadow Darner - Aeshna umbrosa
Subarctic Darner - Aeshna subarctica
Variable Darner - Aeshna interrupta
Zigzag Darner - Aeshna sitchensis
Comet Darner - Anax longipes
Common Green Darner - Anax junius
Springtime Darner - Basiaeschna janata
Fawn Darner - Boyeria vinosa
Ocellated Darner - Boyeria grafiana
Swamp Darner - Epiaeschna heros
Harlequin Darner - Gomphaeschna furcillata
Taper-tailed Darner - Gomphaeschna antilope
Cyrano Darner - Nasiaeschna pentacantha
Spatterdock Darner - Rhionaeschna mutata
North/Central American Species
Azure Darner - Aeshna septentrionalis
Paddle-tailed Darner - Aeshna palmata
Persephone's Darner - Aeshna persephone
Walker’s Darner - Aeshna walkeri
Williamson's Darner - Aeshna williamsoniana
Amazon Darner - Anax amazili
Blue-spotted Comet Darner - Anax concolor
Giant Darner - Anax walsinghami
Hawaian Darner - Anax strenuus
Blue-faced Darner - Coryphaeschna adnexa
Mangrove Darner - Coryphaeschna viriditas
Regal Darner - Coryphaeschna ingens
Bar-sided Darner - Gynacantha mexicana
Twilight Darner - Gynacantha nervosa
Riffle Darner - Oplonaeschna armata
Malachite Darner - Remartinia luteipennis
Arroyo Darner - Rhionaeschna dugesi
Blue-eyed Darner - Rhionaeschna multicolor
California Darner - Rhionaeschna californica
Turquoise-tipped Darner - Rhionaeschna psilus
Rhionaeschna vazquezae
Caribbean Darner - Triacanthagyna caribbea
Pale-green Darner - Triacanthagyna septima
Phantom Darner - Triacanthagyna trifida
Selected Species from Around the World
Thylacine Darner - Acanthaeschna victoria
Azure Hawker - Aeshna caerulea
Baltic Hawker - Aeshna serrata
Blue-spotted Hawker - Aeshna brevistyla
Brown Hawker - Aeshna grandis
Green Hawker - Aeshna viridis
Green-eyed Hawker - Aeshna isoceles
Migrant Hawker - Aeshna mixta
Siberian Hawker - Aeshna crenata
Southern Migrant Hawker - Aeshna affinis
Southern Hawker - Aeshna cyanea
Aeshna ossiliensis
Aeshna petalura
Evening Hawker - Anaciaeschna triangulifera
Blue Emperor - Anax imperator
Blue-spotted Emperor - Anax nigrofasciatus
Dark Emperor - Anax chloromelas
Lesser Emperor - Anax parthenope
Lesser Green Emperor - Anax guttatus
Magnificent Emperor - Anax immaculifrons Orange Emperor - Anax speratus
Swamp Emperor - Anax bangweuluensis
Vagrant Emperor - Anax ephippiger
Black Emperor - Anax tristis
Terrestrial Evening Darner - Antipodophlebia asthenes
Green-striped Darner - Austroaeschna forcipata
Multi-spotted Darner - Austroaeschna multipunctata
Ochre-tipped Darner - Austroaeschna weiskei
Southern Giant Darner - Austrophlebia costalis
Cretan Spotted Darner - Boyeria cretensis
Western Spectre - Boyeria irene
Hairy Hawker - Brachytron pratense
Yellow-spotted Dusk-hawker - Cephalaeschna klotsae
Wide-faced Darner - Dendroaeschna conspersa
Black-kneed Duskhawker - Gynacantha bullata
Brown Darner - Gynacantha dravida
Hairy Duskhawker - Gynacantha villosa
Little Duskhawker - Gynacantha manderica
Usambara Duskhawker - Gynacantha usambarica
Yellow-legged Duskhawker - Gynacantha nigeriensis
Mina Net-winged Darner - Neuraeschna mina
Stream Hawker - Pinheyschna subpupillata
Yemen Hawker - Pinheyschna yemenensis
Rhionaeschna diffinis
Rhionaeschna galapagoensis
Rhionaeschna peralta
Rhionaeschna planaltica
Tropical Cascade Darner - Spinaeschna watsoni
Friendly Hawker - Zosteraeschna minuscula
Additional Information
Amazon Darner - Anax amazili
The Amazon darner is found from Florida, Louisiana and Texas in the U.S. southward through Mexico to Puerto Rico and Argentina.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Arroyo Darner - Rhionaeschna dugesi
The Arroyo darner is found in the southwestern U.S. from Texas to Arizona south through Mexico.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Azure Darner - Aeshna septentrionalis
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Azure Hawker - Aeshna caerulea
The azure hawker is found in Austria, Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Source: British Dragonfly Society Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Baltic Hawker - Aeshna serrata
The Baltic hawker is found in Armenia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Sweden, and Turkey
Source: Dragonfly Pix Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Bar-sided Darner - Gynacantha mexicana
The bar-sided darner is found from the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas south through Mexico.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black Emperor - Anax tristis
The black emperor is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Namibia, Réunion, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Africa Dragonfly Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black-kneed Duskhawker - Gynacantha bullata
The black-kneed duskhawker is found in Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda.
Source: Africa Dragonfly Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black-tipped Darner - Aeshna tuberculifera
The black-tipped darner is found in the northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black-tipped Darner - Aeshna tuberculifera
The black-tipped darner is found near clear lakes and ponds.
Source: Montana Field Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black-tipped Darner - Aeshna tuberculifera
The black-tipped darner has bluish-green stripes.
Source: Maryland Biodiversity Project Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black-tipped Darner - Aeshna tuberculifera
The black-tipped darner is often seen in single-species or mixed-species feeding swarms.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Blue Emperor - Anax imperator
The blue emperor is also known as the emperor dragonfly. It is found from the British Isles across Europe to central Asia, and south to north and central Africa.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Blue-eyed Darner - Rhionaeschna multicolor
The blue-eyed darner is found in central and western North America from southern Alberta and British Columbia to Texas and California south to Mexico.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Blue-eyed Darner - Rhionaeschna multicolor
The blue-eyed darner is found near lakes, ponds, marshes, and slow streams with edge vegetation, as well as acid bogs.
Source: Montana Field Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Blue-faced Darner - Coryphaeschna adnexa
The blue-faced darner is found in Florida, south Texas and Mexico south to Brazil. It is also found in the Caribbean.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Blue-spotted Comet Darner - Anax concolor
The blue-spotted comet darner is found in Texas and Mexico south through Central and South America. It is also found in Cuba, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Blue-spotted Hawker - Aeshna brevistyla
The blue-spotted hawker is found in Australia.
Source: Australian Dragonflies Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Brown Hawker - Aeshna grandis
The brown hawker is found in Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
Source: British Dragonfly Society Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
California Darner - Rhionaeschna californica
The California darner is found near lakes, ponds, marshes and stream pools.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
California Darner - Rhionaeschna californica
Adult California darners eat mosquitoes, flies, small moths, mayflies, and flying ants and termites.
Source: Montana Field Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Canada Darner - Aeshna canadensis
The Canada darner is found across much of Canada and the United States.
Source: BioKids Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School
Canada Darner - Aeshna canadensis
The Canada darner male is blue and brown. The female can be blue, yellow, or green and brown.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Canada Darner - Aeshna canadensis
The Canada darner is found near bogs, beaver ponds, lakes, and other freshwater areas with lots of forest vegetation.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Canada Darner - Aeshna canadensis
The Canada darner spends most of its life as a nymph.
Source: Maryland Biodiversity Project Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Canada Darner - Aeshna canadensis
The Canada darner can be blue, green, or brown i,
Source: Montana Field Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Caribbean Darner - Triacanthagyna caribbea
The Caribbean darner is found from Mexico south to Bolivia and Brazil.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Comet Darner - Anax longipes
The comet darner is found from Ontario and Quebec in Canada throughout the eastern United States southward to Texas and Florida.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Comet Darner - Anax longipes
The comet darner captures its prey in flight with its long legs.
Source: Maryland Biodiversity Projct Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Comet Darner - Anax longipes
The comet darner is found near permanent small lakes, coastal plain ponds, abandoned shallow quarry ponds, natural rocky ponds, and sometimes constructed farm ponds.
Source: NY Natural Heritage Program Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Common Green Darner - Anax junius
The common green darner is found from British Columbia through Nova Scotia and south through most of the U.S., including Hawaii, and into Mexico and the Caribbean.
Source: Bishop Museum Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Common Green Darner - Anax junius
The common green darner is one of the few North American dragonflies that migrates.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Common Green Darner - Anax junius
The common green darner is the official state insect of Washington.
Source: BioKids Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School
Common Green Darner - Anax junius
The common green darner is one of the largest dragonfly species.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Common Green Darner - Anax junius
The common green darner has a bright green head and thorax and a blue abdomen.
Source: Montana Field Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Cretan Spotted Darner - Boyeria cretensis
The cretan spotted darner is found in Crete, Greece.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Cyrano Darner - Nasiaeschna pentacantha
The Cyrano darner is found across much of the eastern U.S. and in southeastern Canada.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Cyrano Darner - Nasiaeschna pentacantha
The Cyrano darner is found in wooded wetlands, swamps, and slow, wooded streams.
Source: Maryland Biodiviersity Project Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Dark Emperor - Anax chloromelas
The dark emperor is found in Cameroon, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.
Source: Africa Dragonfly Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Evening Hawker - Anaciaeschna triangulifera
The evening hawker is found in Angola, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Africa Dragonfly Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Fawn Darner - Boyeria vinosa
The fawn darner is found from Ontario east to Prince Edward Island and south to Texas and Florida.
Source: BioKids Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School
Fawn Darner - Boyeria vinosa
Unlike most dragonfly species, the fawn darner prefers low light and can often be seen at dusk.
Source: Maryland Biodiversity Project Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Fawn Darner - Boyeria vinosa
The fawn darner is found near forested streams.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Friendly Hawker - Zosteraeschna minuscula
The friendly hawker is found in Namibia and South Africa.
Source: Warwick Tarboton Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Giant Darner - Anax walsinghami
The giant darner is found in the southwestern U.S., Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Green Hawker - Aeshna viridis
The green hawker is found in Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, and Ukraine.
Source: Dragonfly Pix Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Green-eyed Hawker - Aeshna isoceles
The green-eyed hawker is found in Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Macedonia, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
Source: British Dragonfly Society Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Green-striped Darner - Aeshna verticalis
The green-striped darner is found in the northeastern U.S. and southern Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick, Canada.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Hairy Hawker - Brachytron pratense
The hairy hawker is found in Europe. It is also known as the hairy dragonfly.
Source: British Dragonfly Society Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Harlequin Darner - Gomphaeschna furcillata
The harlequin darner is found in the eastern U.S. from Ontario south to Florida and west to Texas and Wisconsin.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Harlequin Darner - Gomphaeschna furcillata
The harlequin darner is a small darner.
Source: Maryland Biodiversity Project Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Hawaiian Darner - Anax strenuus
The Hawaiian darner is found in Middle elevations in Hawaii.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Hawaian Darner - Anax strenuus
The Hawaian darner is also known as the Pinao in Hawaii. It is the largest dragonfly found in the United States.
Source: Bishop Museum Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Middle School
Lake Darner - Aeshna eremita
The lake darner is found from Alaska across Canada and the northern U.S.
Source: Montana Field Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Lake Darner - Aeshna eremita
The lake darner is has a black body with blue stripes.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Lance-tipped Darner - Aeshna constricta
The lance-tipped darner is found from southern Canada southward to northern Arkansas and New Mexico.
Source: Montana Field Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Lance-tipped Darner - Aeshna constricta
The lance-tipped darner is found near ponds, marshes, and lakes.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Lance-tipped Darner - Aeshna constricta
The lance-tipped darner is often found perching in low plants.
Source: Maryland Biodiversity Project Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Lesser Emperor - Anax parthenope
The lesser emperor is found in southern Europe, northern Africa, and Asia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Lesser Green Emperor - Anax guttatus
The lesser green emperor is found in Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cook Islands, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
Source: Africa Dragonfly Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Little Duskhawker - Gynacantha manderica
The little duskhawker is found in Benin, Burundi, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Warwick Tarboton Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Magnificent Emperor - Anax immaculifrons
The magnificent emperor is found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Cyprus, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam.
Source: Asia Dragonfly Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Malachite Darner - Remartinia luteipennis
The malachite darner is found from Mexico to northern Argentina. It is also found in Arizona in the U.S.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Migrant Hawker - Aeshna mixta
The migrant hawker is found from Europe to the north of Asia and eastwards to Japan.
Source: British Dragonfly Society Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Mottled Darner - Aeshna clepsydra
The mottled darner is found in Canada and in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
Source: Bug Guider Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Mottled Darner - Aeshna clepsydra
The mottled darner is found near marshes and bogs and small lakes.
Source: NY Natural Heritage Program Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Multi-spotted Darner - Austroaeschna multipunctata
The multi-spotted darner is found in Australia.
Source: South Australia Birding Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Ocellated Darner - Boyeria grafiana
The ocellated darner is found in the eastern U.S. and Canada.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Ocellated Darner - Boyeria grafiana
The ocellated darner is found ialong streams and rivers.
Source: Maryland Biodiversity Project Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Ochre-tipped Darner - Austroaeschna weiskei
The ochre-tipped darner is found in Australia.
Source: South Australia Birding Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Orange Emperor - Anax speratus
The orange emperor is found in Angola, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Warwick Tarboton Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Paddle-tailed Darner - Aeshna palmata
The paddle-tailed darner is found in western North America from Alaska south and west to Nebraska and New Mexico.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Paddle-tailed Darner - Aeshna palmata
The paddle-tailed darner is found inear lakes and ponds with dense shoreline vegetation, marshy or boggy ponds, fens, and saline ponds, as well as slow-moving streams.
Source: Montana Field Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Persephone's Darner - Aeshna persephone
Persephone's darner is found in the Southwestern U.S. in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. It is also found in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Phantom Darner - Triacanthagyna trifida
In the U.S. the phantom darner is found in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. It is also found in the Caribbean.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Regal Darner - Coryphaeschna ingens
The regal darner is found in the southeastern U.S., Cuba, and the Bahamas.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Riffle Darner - Oplonaeschna armata
The riffle darner is found in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. It is also found in Mexico south to Guatemala.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Sedge Darner - Aeshna juncea
The sedge darner is found throughout Canada and the northern U.S. It is also found in Europe and Asia..
Source: Bug Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Sedge Darner - Aeshna juncea
The sedge darner is also known as the moorland hawker and the common hawker.
Source: Dragonfly Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Sedge Darner - Aeshna juncea
The sedge darner often hunts on and around tree trunks late into evening
Source: Montana Field Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Shadow Darner - Aeshna umbrosa
The shadow darner is found throughout much of North America and Canada.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Shadow Darner - Aeshna umbrosa
The shadow darner is found along shaded forest streams, ponds and swamps.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Shadow Darner - Aeshna umbrosa
The shadow darner flies in the shade.
Source: Maryland Biodiversity Project Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Shadow Darner - Aeshna umbrosa
The shadow darner adult feeds on mosquitoes, flies, small moths, mayflies, and flying ants or termites.
Source: Montana Field Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Siberian Hawker - Aeshna crenata
The Siberian hawker is found in Belarus, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Russia.
Source: Dragonfly Pix Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Southern Hawker - Aeshna cyanea
The southern hawker is found in central and southern Europe and parts of northern Africa. It is also known as the blue hawker.
Source: British Dragonfly Society Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Southern Migrant Hawker - Aeshna affinis
The southern migrant hawker is found in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
Source: British Dragonfly Society Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Spatterdock Darner - Rhionaeschna mutata
The spatterdock darner is found in the northeastern United States and southern Ontario, Canada.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Spatterdock Darner - Rhionaeschna mutata
The male spatterdock darner has bright sky-blue eyes.
Source: NY Natural Heritage Program Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Spatterdock Darner - Rhionaeschna mutata
The spatterdock darner is found near shallow, fishless ponds with lots of water lilies.
Source: Maryland Biodiversity Project Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Springtime Darner - Basiaeschna janata
The springtime darner is found in the eastern U.S. and Canada west to Oklahoma and Texas.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Springtime Darner - Basiaeschna janata
The springtime darner is usually found breeding at flowing water.
Source: Maryland Biodiversity Project Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Subarctic Darner - Aeshna subarctica
The subarctic darner is found from Alaska, the Northwest Territories, and Newfoundland south to Oregon, Montana, Wisconsin, and New York. It is also found in Europe. and Asia.
Source: Montana Field Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Subarctic Darner - Aeshna subarctica
The subarctic darner is found near ponds, bogs, and fens.
Source: NY Natural Heritage Program Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Subarctic Darner - Aeshna subarctica
The subarctic darner feeds on insects in open areas until dusk.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Swamp Darner - Epiaeschna heros
The swamp darner is found in the eastern U.S. and Canada west to central Oklahoma and Texas.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Swamp Darner - Epiaeschna heros
The swamp darner breeds in wooded swamps.
Source: Maryland Biodiversity Project Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Taper-tailed Darner - Gomphaeschna antilope
The taper-tailed darner is found from New Hampshire south to Florida and west to Louisiana.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Taper-tailed Darner - Gomphaeschna antilope
The taper-tailed darner breeds in bogs or swamp.
Source: Maryland Biodiversity Project Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Turquoise-tipped Darner - Rhionaeschna psilus
The turquoise-tipped darner is found from southern Texas and southeastern Arizona south through Mexico to Ecuador and Peru.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Twilight Darner - Gynacantha nervosa
The twilight darner is found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma in the U.S. It is also found in Mexico south through Central America and South America and in the West Indies.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Vagrant Emperor - Anax ephippiger
The vagrant emperor is found in Africa, southern Europe, central and south Asia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Variable Darner - Aeshna interrupta
The variable darner is found from Alaska east to Newfoundland and south to California, Arizona, New Mexico, Michigan, and New Hampshire.
Source: Bug Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Variable Darner - Aeshna interrupta
The variable darner is found near lakes and ponds with dense shoreline vegetation, marshy or boggy ponds, fens, and saline ponds, as well as slow-moving streams.
Source: Montana Field Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Western Spectre - Boyeria irene
The western spectre is found in southern Europe.
Source: Dragonfly Pix Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Wide-faced Darner - Dendroaeschna conspersa
The wide-faced darner is found in Australia.
Source: Australian Dragonflies Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Zigzag Darner - Aeshna sitchensis
The zigzag darner is found from Alaska east to the Hudson Bay and south to Washington and New Hampshire.
Source: Montana Field Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Zigzag Darner - Aeshna sitchensis
The zigzag darner is found in Middle elevation sedge marshes near lakes and streams.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School |
This family includes the largest species of dragonflies found in North America and Europe. They range in size from 2-5 inches in length. Most species are around 3 inches in length. They are known as darners in North America because the female's abdomen looks like a sewing needle when she cuts into plant stems to lay her eggs.
