Best Darner

Anax imperator, commonly known as the Emperor Dragonfly, is a large dragonfly species native to Europe. It’s notable for being one of the continent’s largest dragonflies, characterized by its striking blue coloration on the males and prominent size. This darner belongs to the Aeshnidae family and is...

The Comet Darner, *Anax longipes*, is a sizable dragonfly species found primarily in eastern United States. It’s notable for the vibrant red coloration of male adults and their preference for undisturbed woodland ponds. These dragonflies are important indicators of aquatic ecosystem health and are f...

The Australian Emperor (Hemianax papuensis) is a substantial dragonfly species native to Australia. It belongs to the Aeshnidae family, commonly known as darner dragonflies. This insect is notable for its robust flight pattern and impressive size. The Australian Emperor is frequently observed patrol...

The Common Green Darner (*Anax junius*) is a sizable dragonfly found throughout North America. It’s recognized by its impressive size and remarkable annual migrations, often traveling long distances. These dragonflies are particularly noticeable in early spring when they emerge. They are of interest...

The Vagrant Emperor, *Hemianax ephippiger*, is a large dragonfly native to desert regions of Africa and Europe. Notably, it undertakes significant migratory movements across continents, spanning vast distances in search of suitable breeding habitats. This species belongs to the Aeshnidae family, com...

The Swamp darner (*Epiaeschna heros*) is a sizable dragonfly found primarily in eastern North American swamps and wetlands. It’s notable for being one of the continent's largest dragonflies by size and mass. This species is particularly useful for researchers studying aquatic insect populations and...

The Blue-eyed Darner, *Rhionaeschna multicolor*, is a striking dragonfly species native to western United States. It’s notable for its vibrant blue compound eyes and preference for foraging over aquatic habitats like ponds. This darner, belonging to the Aeshnidae family, is observed primarily by ins...

The Twilight Darner (Gynacantha nervosa) is a tropical and subtropical dragonfly notable for its nocturnal lifestyle, resting in dense foliage during the day and hunting insects at dusk.

The Regal darner (*Coryphaeschna ingens*) is a large dragonfly species located in the southeastern United States, notable for its striking size and bright green coloration.

The Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) is a migratory dragonfly native to southern Europe and Asia, noted for a rapid northward range expansion that included its first recorded UK sighting in 1996.

The Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis) is a large dragonfly prevalent across Europe, easily identified in flight by its distinctive golden-brown tinted wings and entirely russet-colored body.

The Cyrano darner (*Nasiaeschna pentacantha*) is an eastern North American dragonfly named for its distinctly protruding forehead, making it a unique monotypic genus member.

The Fawn darner (*Boyeria vinosa*) is a North American dragonfly distinguished by its cryptic brown coloration and its notable behavior of flying primarily during twilight hours.

The Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) is a medium-sized dragonfly common across Europe and Asia, noted for its strong migratory behavior and habit of forming large feeding swarms during late summer.

The California Darner (Rhionaeschna californica) is a western North American dragonfly notable for its early spring emergence, making it one of the first darner species to actively fly each year.

The Amazon darner (*Anax amazili*) is a dragonfly species distributed throughout northern South America, primarily inhabiting the Amazon basin's vast tropical wetlands.

The Ocellated darner (*Boyeria grafiana*) is a dragonfly inhabiting eastern North America, recognized by the distinctive blue spots atop its head that resemble small eyes.

The Spatterdock darner (*Rhionaeschna mutata*) is a North American dragonfly notable for its strong association with spatterdock aquatic plants in eastern regions of the United States.

The Norfolk Hawker (Anaciaeschna isoceles) is a rare British dragonfly restricted to the Norfolk Broads, easily identified by its bright green eyes and a distinctive yellow triangle on its abdomen.

The Lake Darner (Aeshna eremita) is a large dragonfly prevalent in Canada and the northern US, distinguished by its impressive size and habit of continuously patrolling the shores of large lakes.

The Harlequin darner (*Gomphaeschna furcillata*) is a North American dragonfly notable as one of the earliest spring-emerging species, recognized by its intricate brown markings.

The Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa) is a widespread North American dragonfly known for late-season flight activity, commonly patrolling the shaded, forested margins of slow streams during autumn.

The Taper-tailed darner (*Gomphaeschna antilope*) is a spring-emerging dragonfly found in eastern North America, distinguished by its unusually long, slender abdomen.

Described by Philip Calvert in 1905, the Arroyo Darner (*Rhionaeschna dugesi*) is a New World dragonfly recognized by its distinct blue markings and preference for arroyo habitats.

The Canada Darner (Aeshna canadensis) is a widespread dragonfly native to southern Canada and the northern US, frequently observed patrolling and foraging over open marshy wetlands in late summer.

The Paddle-tailed Darner (Aeshna palmata) is a western North American dragonfly named for its paddle-like abdominal appendages, typically found patrolling the marshy edges of high-altitude ponds.

The Green-striped Darner (Aeshna verticalis) is a dragonfly native to Canada and the northern United States, distinguished by the bright green lateral stripes adorning its dark brown thorax.

The Mottled Darner (Aeshna clepsydra) is an eastern North American dragonfly notable for the distinct, mottled brown and gray coloration on its thorax, providing camouflage against tree bark.

The Lance-tipped Darner (Aeshna constricta) is a North American dragonfly noted for breeding in vegetated ponds, easily identified by its distinct, lance-shaped abdominal claspers.