Aeshnidae
Guides
Aeshna interrupta
Variable Darner
Aeshna interrupta, commonly known as the Variable Darner, is a dragonfly species in the family Aeshnidae native to North America. Its range extends from Alaska and the Northwest Territories through Newfoundland, south to New Hampshire and Michigan in the eastern United States, and to the mountains of New Mexico, Arizona, and California in the west. The species is named for the distinctive broken stripes on the sides of the thorax present in many male specimens. It occupies diverse habitats including northern and mountain peatlands, cattail marshes, and other wetland environments.
Aeshna juncea
Common Hawker, Moorland Hawker, Sedge Darner
Aeshna juncea, known as the Common Hawker, Moorland Hawker, or Sedge Darner, is a large hawker dragonfly with a Holarctic distribution spanning the Palearctic from Ireland to Japan and northern North America. It is one of the larger Aeshna species and is strongly associated with acidic bog habitats, particularly in Scotland where it is a prominent bog specialist. The species has a flight period from June to early October. Recent genomic research has revealed that Alaskan populations underwent population bottlenecks during the most recent ice age, and the species has been used as a model for studying genome size variation in Odonata driven by transposons and repetitive elements.
Aeshna sitchensis
zigzag darner
Aeshna sitchensis, commonly known as the zigzag darner, is a species of darner dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It is found in North America. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival. The IUCN status was last reviewed in 2017.
Aeshna umbrosa
Shadow Darner
Aeshna umbrosa, commonly known as the Shadow Darner, is a large dragonfly species in the family Aeshnidae. It is widely distributed across North America, occurring throughout almost all of Canada and most of the United States. The species is typically associated with shaded habitats, including forested wetlands and woodland streams. Adult Shadow Darners are powerful fliers and active predators.
Aeshna verticalis
Green-striped Darner
Aeshna verticalis, the green-striped darner, is a dragonfly species in the family Aeshnidae. It is distinguished from similar darners by its green lateral thoracic stripes. The species is found in northeastern North America and holds an IUCN conservation status of Least Concern with a stable population.
Anax
Emperors, Green Darners
Anax is a genus of large dragonflies in the family Aeshnidae, commonly known as emperors and green darners. The genus includes some of the largest and most powerful dragonflies in the world, with species distributed across multiple continents. Several Anax species are notable long-distance migrants, with Anax junius (the common green darner) being one of the most studied migratory dragonflies in North America. The genus name derives from the ancient Greek word for 'lord' or 'king', reflecting their imposing size and predatory dominance.
Anax longipes
Comet Darner
Anax longipes, commonly known as the Comet Darner, is a dragonfly species in the family Aeshnidae. It is a common North American species with a distinctive appearance and migratory behavior. Adults are large, powerful fliers that prey on other insects in flight. The species is part of the Migratory Dragonfly Partnership monitoring program due to its seasonal movements.
Anax walsinghami
giant darner, giant green darner
Anax walsinghami is the largest dragonfly species in North America, with a wingspan reaching up to 120 mm and body length of 89–117 mm. Commonly known as the giant darner or giant green darner, this species belongs to the family Aeshnidae and is distributed across Central America and North America. Despite its impressive size, it is exceeded by the closely related giant Hawaiian darner (A. strenuus). The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern with a stable population.
Boyeria grafiana
Ocellated Darner
Boyeria grafiana, the ocellated darner, is a dragonfly species in the family Aeshnidae. It is found in North America. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern with a stable population.
Boyeria vinosa
fawn darner
Boyeria vinosa, the fawn darner, is a dragonfly species in the family Aeshnidae. It inhabits rivers and streams in eastern North America, from southeastern Canada through the eastern United States. Adults are crepuscular, being most active at dusk. The species has a univoltine life cycle with egg diapause and approximately 10 months of larval development.
Coryphaeschna
Pilot Darners
Coryphaeschna is a genus of large dragonflies commonly known as pilot darners, comprising approximately 10 described species within the family Aeshnidae. The genus occurs primarily in the Neotropical region, with species ranging from the southern United States through Central America and into South America. Members of this genus are aerial predators typical of the darner group, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented for many species.
Coryphaeschna ingens
Regal Darner
Coryphaeschna ingens, commonly known as the regal darner, is a species of large dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It occurs across the Caribbean and North America, with a stable population and no immediate conservation concerns. The species is recognized by its substantial size and distinctive coloration typical of the genus Coryphaeschna.
Gomphaeschna antilope
Taper-tailed Darner
Gomphaeschna antilope, commonly known as the Taper-tailed Darner, is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It is native to North America. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival. The species was last assessed in 2017.
Gynacantha mexicana
bar-sided darner
Gynacantha mexicana, commonly known as the bar-sided darner, is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It is distributed across Central America, North America, and South America. The species has been assessed by the IUCN as Least Concern with a stable population, with the most recent review conducted in 2017.
Oplonaeschna
Riffle Darners
Oplonaeschna is a genus of dragonflies in the family Aeshnidae, commonly known as riffle darners. The genus comprises approximately five described species, including both extant and fossil taxa. The type species, Oplonaeschna armata, has been the subject of limited ecological study. The genus was established by Selys in 1883.
Oplonaeschna armata
Riffle Darner
Oplonaeschna armata, commonly known as the riffle darner, is a dragonfly species in the family Aeshnidae. It occurs in Central America and North America. The species has been assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats identified as of 2017.
Remartinia secreta
Secretive Darner
Remartinia secreta is a species of darner dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae, commonly known as the Secretive Darner. The species was described by Philip Powell Calvert in 1952. It belongs to a small genus of Neotropical darners with limited documentation in scientific literature. Records indicate presence in South America, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Rhionaeschna dugesi
Arroyo Darner
Rhionaeschna dugesi, commonly known as the arroyo darner, is a species of darner dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It occurs in Central America and North America. The species has been assessed by the IUCN as Least Concern (LC) with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival; this status was reviewed in 2017.
Rhionaeschna mutata
Spatterdock Darner
Rhionaeschna mutata, commonly known as the spatterdock darner, is a rare and ecologically restricted dragonfly species in the family Aeshnidae. It is found in North America, with specific reproductive habitat requirements that limit its distribution. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population as of 2017. Its common name references its association with spatterdock (Nuphar), a type of aquatic vegetation.
Rhionaeschna psilus
Turquoise-tipped Darner
Rhionaeschna psilus, commonly known as the turquoise-tipped darner, is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It is distributed across a broad geographic range spanning the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. The species holds a least concern conservation status due to its stable population and absence of immediate threats.
Triacanthagyna caribbea
Caribbean Darner
Triacanthagyna caribbea is a species of darner dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae, described by Williamson in 1923. It is endemic to the Caribbean region, with confirmed records from Colombia (departments of Antioquia, Bolívar, Magdalena, and Sucre) and broader Caribbean distribution. The species is part of the genus Triacanthagyna, which is characterized by three-spined abdominal appendages in males. As with other aeshnids, it is likely a strong flier adapted to tropical environments.
Triacanthagyna septima
pale green darner, Pale-green Darner
Triacanthagyna septima, commonly known as the pale green darner, is a relatively small aeshnid dragonfly found across the Americas from the southern United States through Central America to South America. Adults measure 59–66 mm in length with a wingspan of 68–86 mm. The species exhibits subtle sexual dimorphism, with females possessing three long, slender cerci that may break off in mature individuals, causing them to resemble males.
Triacanthagyna trifida
Phantom Darner
Triacanthagyna trifida, commonly known as the Phantom Darner, is a large dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It is one of approximately 20 species in the genus Triacanthagyna, a group of neotropical darners characterized by their distinctive three-toothed claspers. The species occurs across a broad geographic range spanning North, Central, and South America as well as the Caribbean. Adults are known for their crepuscular activity patterns, being most active at dusk.