COMMON GREEN DARNER (Anax junius)
- flier
- large size (length 3 inches, wingspread 4½ inches)
- long abdomen
- eyes dull greenish to bluish to brown
- thorax green
- abdomen blue in male, green in female, violet in immatures
- dark line down middle of abdomen
Common Green Darner (3D image)
Appears in North early in spring, before local dragonfly emergence, presumably migrants from south. Larvae develop through summer, emerge in July/August, then fly south. Breeding in South, tropics in fall/early winter. Those larvae develop through winter and emerge in spring, cycle repeats. There are also resident populations.
SIMILAR SPECIES
These all have green thorax, usually shining green or blue eyes; not known to migrate or occur in swarms.
- Comet Darner (Anax longipes) – eastern; slightly larger; abdomen reddish in both sexes, may have pale bluish spots in female
- Regal Darner (Coryphaeschna ingens) – southeastern; thorax with obvious brown stripes; abdomen longer, more slender, black with fine green lines
SIMILAR TROPICAL SPECIES
- Amazon Darner (Anax amazili) – abdomen with whitish spots, sides of first segment often with whitish ring; eyes gray or violet
- Blue-spotted Comet Darner (Anax concolor) – abdomen brown with bluish spots in both sexes
- Blue-faced Darner (Coryphaeschna adnexa) – smaller, more slender; abdomen black with fine green lines
- Mangrove Darner (Coryphaeschna viriditas) – more slender; abdomen black with fine green lines
