Green Darner
Green Darner, Ottawa, Ontario
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Suborder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Aeshnidae
Genus:	Anax
Species:	A. junius
Binomial name
Anax junius (Drury, 1773)

The dragonfly, Anax junius, is commonly called the green darner, after its resemblance to a darning-needle. Common throughout North America, it ranges south to Panama and occurs in the West Indies, Tahiti, and Asia from Japan to mainland China^[1]. It is the official insect for the state of Washington.

The Green Darner is one of the largest dragonflies extant: males grow to 76 millimetres (3.0 in) in length with up to an 80 millimetres (3.1 in) wingspan. ^[1]

Females oviposit in aquatic vegetation, eggs laid beneath the water surface. Nymphs (naiads) are aquatic carnivores, feeding on insects, tadpoles and small fish. Adult darners catch insects on the wing, including ant royalty, moths, mosquitoes and flies.

Mating

Egg-laying

side view

[edit] References

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