- Green Darner
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Green Darner 
Adult female, Blackwell Forest Preserve, Illinois[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Odonata Suborder: Anisoptera Family: Aeshnidae Genus: Anax Species: A. junius Binomial name Anax junius
(Drury, 1773)The Green Darner or Common Green Darner[2] (Anax junius), after its resemblance to a darning-needle, is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. One of the most common and abundant species throughout North America and its range south to Panama.[3] It is well known for its great migration distance from the northern United States south into Texas and Mexico.[4] It also occurs in the Caribbean, Tahiti, and Asia from Japan to mainland China.[5] It is the official insect for the state of Washington in the United States.
The Green Darner is one of the largest dragonflies existent: males grow to 76 mm (3.0 in) in length with a wingspan of up to 80 mm (3.1 in).[5][6]
Females oviposit in aquatic vegetation, eggs laid beneath the water surface. Nymphs (naiads) are aquatic carnivores, feeding on insects, tadpoles and small fish. Adult darners catch insects on the wing, including ant royalty, moths, mosquitoes and flies.
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Mating, wheel position
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Egg-laying
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Female
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Uncommon blue form female, Ottawa, Canada
References
- ^ Cirrus Digital Anax junius
- ^ Dunkle, S.W., Dragonflies through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America. New York:Oxford University Press, 2000:33.
- ^ Eaton, Eric R.; Kaufman, Kenn (2006). Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-618-15310-7.
- ^ Evans, Arthur V. (2007). Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North America. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. p. 62. ISBN 978-1-4027-4153-1.
- ^ a b University of Michigan Zoology Anax junius
- ^ Hahn, Jeffrey (2009). Insects of the North Woods. Kollath+Stensaas Publishing. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-9792006-4-9.
External links
Media related to Anax junius at Wikimedia CommonsExternal identifiers for Anax junius EOL 131866 ITIS 101598 Also found in: Wikispecies - Green Darner, BugGuide
Categories:- Aeshnidae
- Animals described in 1773
- Insects of Asia
- Odonata of North America
- Symbols of Washington (state)
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