Dragonfly ID: The Darners

Darners are members of the family Aeshnidae

Dragonfly Resources Types of Dragonflies The Aeshnoidea Cordulegastridae - Spiketails Gomphidae - Clubtails Petaluridae - Petaltails The Libelluloidea Emeralds Libellulidae - Skimmers and more Macromiidae - Cruisers More Dragonfly Facts Dragonfly Pictures

With around 40 different species in the United States, the darners or hawkers, as they are commonly called, are one of the more likely dragonflies you will see in your area.

There are a couple of identifying characteristics to this dragonfly. First, they are called darners because they look like a sewing needle with their long thin abdomen. The picture on the left also shows the narrowing of an abdomen segment directly below the thorax. Emeralds also diplay this characteristic.

Darners are usually large with colorful markings. The green darner, for example, is one of the largest dragonflies found in the United States. It is characterized by a green thorax and blue abdomen.

Darner eyes commonly touch at the top middle of the head. Also, their wings are clear except for a small stigma (mark) on the side of the top wing.

The picture and description of the California Darner provides another example of a darner species.

© 2007. Patricia A. Michaels