Insect · GBIF taxon 1425205
Canada Darner
Aeshna canadensisCanada darners are robust aerial predators recognizable by the brilliant blue or green thoracic stripes and abdominal spots on mature males. Males spend sunny afternoons endlessly patrolling the edges of boggy lakes, beaver ponds, and slow streams, occasionally hovering in place to defend their territories. Females deposit eggs directly into aquatic plants or decaying wood floating near the water line, where the aquatic nymphs spend up to several years hunting sub-surface prey.
Aerial PredatorAquatic LarvaColorful
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Mosquitoes
- Midges
- Small moths
Predators
- Insectivorous birds
- Frogs
- Larger dragonflies
ThreatsWetland drainage, aquatic pollution, and shoreline development
HabitatsBoreal lakes, beaver ponds, peatlands, and marshy meadows
Life span1–3 years (mostly as nymph; adults live 1–2 months)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderOdonata
- FamilyAeshnidae
- GenusAeshna
- SpeciesAeshna canadensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Best Time: Look for active adults on warm, sunny afternoons from July through September.
- Observation: Watch perching individuals on sunlit shrubs near shoreline vegetation.
- Photography: Use a telephoto lens with a fast shutter speed to catch them hovering over water.
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Kent P. McFarland · cc0
Close Relative (c) Blake Ross, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Christine Young, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christine Young · cc-by
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Found in Collections
Ecosystem chain
Wetland Territory
Canada Darner is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
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