Species Spotlight: Common Green Darner

The next species in the spotlight, the Common Green Darner (Anax junius)—which is closely related to the previous species, the Comet Darner (Anax longipes)—has the distinction of being the official state insect of Washington state. It is a large, vigorous dragonfly that is widespread across North America, and is one of the species of dragonfly known to migrate. Its scientific name means "King or Ruler of June" referring to the peak of its flight season; the scientific name for the Comet Darner means "Ruler with long legs" which is certainly an apt name as can be seen in the photos for that species below.

You can judge the size of this species from the following photo, showing a mating pair that I whispered onto my finger.



One day we saw a male Common Green Darner catch and consume a female Eight-spotted Skimmer—which is a good-sized dragonfly in its own right.

Here's a pair of Common Green Darners in tandem, as the female lays eggs in a floating log. Sometimes the female will go partly underwater—up to her thorax at least—as she probes for a suitable deposition site. Notice also the yellow veins on the leading edge of the wings.



The following shot shows a freshly emerged teneral female Common Green Darner. The colors are bright and fresh, and her body is partially translucent.



Common Green Darners are always a delight to see as they whiz by at high speed. Seeing one perched so you can get a close up look is an added bonus.