Hagenius

Selys, 1854

dragonhunter

Species Guides

1

Hagenius is a of clubtail ( Gomphidae) containing the single Hagenius brevistylus, commonly known as the dragonhunter. This large, aggressive dragonfly inhabits riverine systems of eastern North America and is notable for its exceptional predatory , including the habit of capturing and consuming other dragonflies and damselflies. The genus name honors Hermann August Hagen, a prominent 19th-century entomologist specializing in Odonata.

Hagenius brevistylus by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.Hagenius brevistylus by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.Dragonhunter Hagenius brevistylus by Mike Ostrowski. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Hagenius: //həˈdʒiːniəs//

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Habitat

Riverine systems including rivers and streams; associated with riparian environments where hunt and nymphs develop in aquatic .

Distribution

Eastern United States and southeastern Canada.

Behavior

Postural through wing positioning and body orientation relative to solar radiation has been observed in H. brevistylus; this behavioral mechanism is the primary means of temperature regulation in this .

More Details

Taxonomic note

Hagenius is a ; Hagenius brevistylus is the only recognized . The 'dragonhunter' refers to this species' documented on other Odonata.

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