Epiaeschna

The single living species E. heros is a large darner with green eyes that meet at the top of the head. It has a brown thorax with two green lateral stripes and a brown abdomen marked with blue or green spots. The wings are clear with a slight amber tint at the base. Separation from other Aeshnidae genera requires examination of abdominal appendages and wing venation details.

Associated with wooded swamps, marshes, and slow-moving streams with abundant vegetation. Breeding sites typically feature standing or slow-flowing water with submerged and emergent plants.

Extant: eastern North America. Fossil record: England, Kazakhstan, France, Crimea, China, and Germany (Eocene to Miocene).

Adults active from late spring through summer; peak activity varies by latitude within eastern North America.

Aquatic larval stage (naiad) develops in standing or slow-moving water. Adults are aerial predators. Specific developmental duration not documented.

Adults function as aerial predators of flying insects. Larvae are aquatic predators within wetland food webs.

Occasionally encountered by naturalists and dragonfly enthusiasts in eastern North American wetlands. No significant economic or medical importance.

• AeshnaOther large darners in same family; distinguished by differences in abdominal appendage structure and thoracic patterning
• AnaxLarge darners with eyes meeting dorsally; separated by body proportions and abdominal color patterns

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life