Darners: genus Anax
|
More Dragonfly Information Darners Dragonfly Pictures |
Only three Anax species live consistently in the United States. An additional Anax species sporadically migrates across the border to the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
Comet Darners (Anax longipes) call the lake and pond areas of Eastern North American home.
They migrate seasonally, and prefer coastal areas. Smaller populations are found inland.
The large size, green thorax and red abdomen of the male shown in the first picture, make it an easily identifiable native Anax species.
Females and immature adults also have a green thorax, although the thorax color dulls to a brownish shade.
Comet Darners inhabit a variety of eastern pond and lake areas, with a range extending from the Great Lakes in the north, to Florida in the south.
The Common Green Darner (Anax junius), the widest ranging of the Anax species, inhabits lakes and ponds from coast to coast.
Large in size, Green Darner bodies grow up to three inches in length. A wing span extending to four inches in length insures they do not get overlooked by spectators within their territory.
In their southern ranges such as Texas and Florida, Common Green Darners can be found flying during the entire year. In their northern ranges, Common Green Darners prefer flying during the warm summer months.
The name Green Darner refers to the dragonfly's eye and thorax color. Males, like the one pictured at the top of the page also have blue coloring along the abdomen. Females lack the blue coloring.
In 1997, the school children of Washington State voted the Common Green Darner the official state insect.
© 2009-2011. Patricia A. Michaels.