Common Green Darner

Description:

The Common Green Darner resembles a darning needle, hence its common name. It 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). The thorax is unmarked, bright green in both sexes. In mature males, the abdomen has a dark purple dorsal stripe flanked by bright blue lateral stripes. When cool, the blue stripes change to purple and may become so dark as to blend in with the dorsal stripe to give a uniform purplish abdomen. Immature males, and females, have red abdomens and can easily be mistaken for Comet Darner. Both sexes have a large black spot, a "bulls eye" in front of the eyes. Mature females have rusty brown to purple abdomens

Habitat:

Adults are strong flyers and may be found anywhere but are more common near larval habitat: still marshy waters, fresh and slightly brackish. This mating pair was photographed at a constructed pond in the midlands of South Carolina at the Silver Bluff Audubon Center.

Notes:

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. Both adults and larvae are predaceous