Odonata49 species

Family Darners (Aeshnidae)

Aeshnidae is a family in the order Odonata. Browse 49 named species recorded in this family, or open an individual profile for its available identification and natural-history information.

Species in Aeshnidae (49)

Southern Hawker

Aeshna cyanea

This is a large hawker. Usually males are black with large apple green spots on the abdomen and with blue markings on the last two segments and along the sides of the abdomen. Thorax sides are largely bright green, as is the face, with blue eyes. Fem

Brown Hawker

Aeshna grandis

This large dragonfly is easily distinguished. Both sexes are a rich brown and have a distinctive golden-brown wings, which is often the most striking character of flying individuals. The male has two small blue spots on segment 2 and blue spots along

Common Hawker

Aeshna juncea

This Hawker has paired spots on each abdominal segment, two broad stripes on the sides of the thorax and the costa is yellow in both sexes. The male has quite small blue spots on each segment of the abdomen and appears quite dark. The eyes are blue.

Migrant Hawker

Aeshna mixta

This is a medium sized dragonfly. The overall impression is dark, the male having a blackish abdomen with blue spots, brown thorax with relatively narrow yellow stripes, and blue eyes. Females are brown with yellow spots. Both sexes have a prominent

Amazon Darner

Anax amazili

Identification: Eyes gray; Face green with diamond-shaped black mark on frons; white spots laterally on S3-9. Rare. May be breeding in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and southern Florida.

Blue-Spotted Comet

Anax concolor

First US record photographed at Santa Ana NWR in June 2005. Subsequent records documented at Bentsen-RGV and Resaca de la Palma State Parks.

Emperor Dragonfly

Anax imperator

This is one of Europe's largest dragonflies. The male is easy to identify with its apple green thorax and bright blue abdomen and blue eyes. The female is mostly green and also has the apple green thorax. Large ponds, lakes, canals and slow moving ri

Springtime Darner

Basiaeschna janata

Identification: Males have brown thorax with two relatively straight yellow lateral thoracic stripes. Eyes generally blue. Abdomen spotted with blue. Female similar but abdominal spots may be blue or green.

Ocellated Darner

Boyeria grafiana

Identification: Adult :Large, greyish-brown in color, lacking any brown spots at the base of the wings. Thorax with yellow spots. Nymph 1. Epiproct bifurcate at tip............................................................... vinosa - Epiproct with

Fawn Darner

Boyeria vinosa

Identification: Adult :Large, brown spots at base of each wing. Yellow spots on side of thorax. Typically flies in the evening. see to differentiate from grafiana Nymph : see to differentiate from grafiana Famous for approaching humans if they are wa

Hairy Dragonfly

Brachytron pratense

Similar in size to the Migrant Hawker, the male is black with blue spots and the female black with yellow spots. Both have a downy thorax which, in the male, has a pair of green stripes on the dorsal surface. Twin black lines on the side of the thora

Swamp Darner

Epiaeschna heros

Identification: Large, dark brown with blue eyes. Compare Regal and Cyrano Darners. An impressive dragonfly of southern wetlands. Christopher Hadin journal entry -- "August 22, 2005 This evening at dusk there was a steady migration of what appeared t

Harlequin Darner

Gomphaeschna furcillata

Identification: A very small darner. See print and Internet references.

Bar-sided Darner

Gynacantha mexicana

Identification: Most readily distinguished by the brown stripe along the leading edge of all four wings, though some individuals apparently lack this marking.