Darner Dragonflies, Aeshnidae, of California

This is the webpage for
California Darners
aka
California Aeshnidae

The companion website to Dragonflies (Anisoptera) of California.

Family: DARNERS - Aeshnidae Field/Photo key to California's Darners Photo and discussion of an Aeshna shedding its exoskeleton	Family: DARNERS - Aeshnidae 4 CA genera, including 11 species: Green Darners, Anax - robust, large green eyes meet in center, forms a seam, thorax solid green, abdomen more solidly colored, wings mostly clear but may be yellow-tinged, some are migratory - 2 CA species Mosaic Darners, Aeshna - large blue eyes meet in the center, form a seam, mosaic patterned abdomen, difficult to distinguish to species without catching them (in net or digitally) - 4 CA species: Research in 2003 split the genus Aeshna* into Aeshna and Rhionaechna Neotropical/Blue-eyed Darners, Rhionaeschna - like Mosaic Darners, but in addition, having a small bump under the 1st segment - 3 CA species Research in 2003 split these from the genus Aeshna* Riffle Darners, Oplonaeschna - RARE - very similar to Mosaic darners; top of segment 10 has a fingerlike projection - 1 CA species nymph - long and slender, crawl about on underwater vegetation hunting prey

Photos female Darner and exuvia The exuvia is the exoskeleton left behind when a darner nymph metamorphoses into a flier.	How to Identify Female Darners female Darners have only 2 appendages; each species has several color forms; use color of the line across face, presence (Rhionaeschna) or lack (Aeshna)of a small bump under first segment, the presence or lack of paired blue spots on abdomen underside, the presence and/or shape of thoracic top and side stripes, and the ovipositor length. Use of an identification key is often necessary.
male female (green-colored form) Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia	Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor archaic name - common blue darner size: large, length 61 - 71 mm, wingspan 86 - 100 mm male: bright blue eyes and face; brown line across face; broad blue stripes on thorax sides and top are uniform in width; abdomen appears almost all blue when in flight, but is a mosaic of blue, black and copper; appendages forked, appear wrench shaped when seen from side; spots atop segment 10 are paler than others and widely separated; bump under 1st segment; 3 cells in hindwing anal triangle female: several color forms: facial line pale brown; bump under first segment; see key and pages 128 & 129 in *Dragonflies (Anisoptera) of California. Also Blue-eyed females have a lot of blue on S1 while on California it is either entirely dark or with blue limited to a couple of spots; segment 2 of the abdomen has longitudinal and transverse lines that cross on the segment that are interrupted by a dark band habitat:* ponds, lakes, slow streams California flight period: possible in appropriate weather all year in the southern part of the state similar species: California Darner has a black line across the face and the appendages are not forked nor wrench-shaped California distribution: common statewide California distribution map Southwestern distribution map
male female (male-colored form) Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia	California Darner Rhionaeschna californica size: large, length 56 - 60 mm, wingspan 75 - 83 mm male: small for family; sky blue eyes and spots, immature grayer; face pale blue with black line; thorax has thin pale blue side stripes which curve slightly backwards, usually no stripe on top; appendages simple, without spine; spots atop segment 10 closer together than on 9; bump under 1st segment; 3 cells in hindwing anal triangle female: facial line black; bump under first segment; see key; on S1, California Darner females are either entirely dark or with blue limited to a couple of spots. segment 2 of the abdomen has longitudinal and transverse lines that cross on the segment that are pale. habitat: ponds, lakes, slow streams California flight period: February - August; most often seen early in the season California distribution: most areas California distribution map Southwestern distribution map
male female Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia	Turquoise-tipped Darner Rhionaeschna psilus size: large, length 58 - 60 mm, wingspan 74 - 84 mm male: small and dark for a darner; bluish eyes (brown when immature) and blue face with only a faint colored line across; long, wide green or blue stripes on sides and top of thorax are wavy and uneven; anal hind wing triangle - 3 cells; spots on abdomen small and green colored except for blue on segment 2 & usually 10; pale blue color on underside of segments 9 & 10 is diagnostic; bump under 1st segment; appendages simple, without a true spine female: thorax similarly marking to male; bump under first segment; spots on abdomen small and green colored; long appendages habitat: elsewhere ponds, ditches and sluggish streams California flight period: found once in September California distribution: RARE: Orange Co.; report and document all encounters California distribution map Southwestern distribution map
male female Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia	Paddle-tailed Darner Aeshna palmata size: very large, length 63 - 75 mm, wingspan 82 - 99 mm male: face, top and side thoracic stripes greenish; black line across face; clear wings; blue spots on top of 9th and 10th abdominal segments usually fused; many small spots; underside of abdomen dark; 3 cells in HW anal triangle; flared paddle-shaped appendages with small spine Comparison shot between male Paddle-tailed and Shadow Darners female: facial line black; no bump under first segment; terminal appendages widest at central point; styli of ovipositor extend beyond the last segment; see key habitat: ponds, lakes, small streams California flight period: May - November California distribution: all forested areas in mountains California distribution map Southwestern distribution map
male female Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia	Variable DarnerAeshna interrupta size: very large, length 62 - 77 mm, wingspan 89 - 102 mm male: dark; thorax side stripes interrupted or very narrow; top stripes very narrow or missing; dark blue eyes; face pale greenish yellow with black line; abdominal spots sky-blue, very small spots on segment 10 more widely separated than on 9, no spots underside; HW anal triangle has 2 cells; appendages lack spine female: facial line black; no bump under first segment; see key habitat: mountain lakes, ponds, bogs California flight period: May - October California distribution: mountains California distribution map Southwestern distribution map
male female Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia	Walker's Darner Aeshna walkeri size: very large, length 65 - 77 mm, wingspan 86 - 100 mm male: face and thoracic stripes nearly white; clear wings, black veins and stigma; abdomen spots large, fewer small spots than other Aeshna; no (or VERY tiny) spots atop segment 10, those on segment 9 fused; no blue spots underside; flared paddle-shaped appendages with small spine; 3 cells HW anal triangle; female: thin, dark facial line; no bump; jet black stigma; pale spots s9 widely separated, tiny spots s10 habitat: mostly creeks and streams California flight period: May - November; mostly flies late in season California distribution: along moving water California distribution map Southwestern distribution map
male female Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia	Shadow Darner Aeshna umbrosa size: very large, length 66 - 78 mm, wingspan 86 - 100 mm male: sometimes appears darker, showing less blue than other Mosaic Darners or as blue as most; frontal thoracic stripe green; straight side stripes are green to blue, with a rearward extension at the top; paired pale blue spots underside of abdomen; no blue spots top of segment 10; appendages paddle-shaped with small spine; 3 cells in hw anal triangle Comparison shot between male Shadow and Paddle-tailed Darners female: chocolate brown; no bump; pale spots underside habitat: often flies in the shade California flight period: July - late November; flies late in the season (once found in CA in Feb!) California distribution: central and northern Calif. California distribution map Southwestern distribution map
male female Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia	Canada DarnerAeshna canadensis size: large, length 64 - 73 mm, wingspan 86 - 99 mm male: thorax side stripes relatively broad; front stripe deeply indented upper half, green, yellow &/or blue; lt. brown facial line; underside of abdomen has paired pale spots; top of last segment has pale spots; anal triangle hind wing - 2 cells; appendages paddle-shaped female: facial line light brown; no bump under segment 1; paired spots underside of abdomen habitat: ponds, lakes, especially beaver ponds California flight period: July - October California distribution: RARE: northern mountains California distribution map Southwestern distribution map
male female Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia	Riffle Darner Oplonaeschna armata size: very large, length 66 - 75 mm, wingspan 92 - 110 mm male: very similar to Mosaic darners; deep blue eyes; strongly indented side thoracic stripes blue above, yellow below; abdomen spots a bit smaller than on Mosaic darners; appendages paddle-shaped with spine & a toothed projection near tip; top of segment 10 has a fingerlike projection female: short; yellow, blue &/or green spots; no bump habitat: rocky streams in oak & pine woodlands California flight period: June California distribution: RARE: found once Inyo Co. in the 1900s no California distribution map Southwestern distribution map
male female Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia	Common Green Darner Anax junius size: very large, 63 - 84 mm, wingspan 92 - 103 mm male: more solidly colored than Mosaic Darners; green eyes and yellow-green face; 'bullseye shaped mark top of face; solid green thorax; electric blue abdomen with wide dark stripe on top; wings can be clear or show yellowish tinge female: most are purplish brown with green; rarer form colored like male (however S2 isn't all green); eyes remain brown with back border yellow; wings often yellowish tinged behavior: abdomen carried straight in flight; swarm; migrate habitat: fields and waterways California flight period: all months in the south, migratory California distribution: common statewide California distribution map Southwestern distribution map
male female Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia	Giant Darner Anax walsinghami archaic name - walsingham's darner size: huge, male 99 - 111 mm, wingspan 115 - 135 mm male: largest dragonfly in North America; coloring like Common Green Darner but very long thin blue and dark patterned abdomen; solid green thorax; eyes blue on top, yellow rimmed female: like male; smaller but still very long narrow abdomen, 88 - 99 mm, wingspan 112 -122 mm; less blue behavior: abdomen carried arched in flight similar species: Common Green Darner caries abdomen straingt in flight; eyes green habitat: canyon and spring-fed streams, marshes, lakes in arid areas California flight period: April - October California distribution map Southwestern distribution map

End of Darners family, use your back/return key to go back to the prior page.