Key to Identification of Male Southwestern Darners
[Even seasoned experts cannot 100% identify most Darners without having them in hand.
With experience you can get a 'feel' for which species you are seeing, but in hand identifications
or a series of photos would be required for any county or flight season records]
© Kathy Biggs
male hind-wing anal triangles showing 2 and 3 cells digitally high-lighted
forked appendages, unforked appendages appendages with spine
pale spot atop segment 10 no pale spot atop segment 10
Small: 57-64mm Medium; 60-70mm Large: 70-80mm Huge:100+mm
1a). Thorax entirely
green.................................................2
1b). Thorax
dark with pale stripes on sides......................4
2a). Face green .. 3
2b). Face blue, small size
Blue-faced Darner (Coryphaeschna adnexa)
3a). Large size, but smaller than <80 mm...
Common Green Darner (Anax junius)
3b). HUGE (>=90 mm); abdomen long & thin
Giant Darner (Anax walsinghami )
4a).
Hind-wing anal triangle with 2 cells
...13
4b). Hind-wing anal triangle with 3 cells
.
5
5a). Upper appendages forked in side view; .....6
5b). Upper appendages simple, paddle shaped with or
without a distinct spine at tip ....7
6a). Appendages strongly forked, wrench-shaped
Blue-eyed
Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor )
6b). Appendages almost forked with long upper fork and hint of lower
fork
Arroyo Darner (Rhionaeschna dugesi)
7a). Appendages with a distinct spine . .8
7b). Appendages without a distinct spine .. .13
8a). Pale spots underside of abdomen
Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa)
8b). No pale spots underside of abdomen .. ..9
9a). Face and side stripes very pale, not indented; at moving water
Walker's Darner (Aeshna walkeri )
9b). Not so ...10
10a). Fingerlike projection atop segment 10
Riffle Darners (Oplonaeschna armata)
10b). Not so .. ......11
11a). No spots or very small spots atop segment 10;
broad yellow side stripes
Persephones Darner (Aeshna persephone)
11b). Not so ... .12
12a). Spots segment 9 fused; facial line black
Paddle-tailed Darner (Aeshna palmata)
12b). Bright green face, rear side stripe flagged
Lance-tipped Darner (Aeshna constricta)
13a). Medium size (61-72mm), side stripes very thin or interrupted
Variable Darner (Aeshna interrupta)
13b). Not so .. .14
14a). Front side thoracic stripe pale & straight, face green
14b). Not so .. .15
15a). Blue spots under abdomen
Canada Darner (Aeshna canadensis)
15b). Not so .. .16
16a). Pale spots atop segment 10, thoracic side stripes wide and indented
16b). Not so .. .17
17a). Broad solid green stripes thorax top & side;
turquoise face
Malachite Darner (Remartinia luteipennis)
17b). Not so .. .18
18a). Small size, side stripes zig zag
Zig Zag Darner (Aeshna sitchensis)
18b).Not so .. .. ..19
19a). Small (<=64 mm), rear side stripe curves backwards
California Darner (Rhionaeschna californica)
19b). Size small (58-60mm), blue under segments 9& 10
Turquoise-tipped Darner (Rhionaeschna psilus)