Species Epiaeschna heros - Swamp Darner

Epiaeschna heros (Fabricius)

Orig. Comb: Aeschna heros Fabricius 1798

Total length: 80-94 mm; abdomen: 63-72 mm; hindwing: 52-60 mm. (OC)

Large, dark brown with blue eyes. Compare Regal and Cyrano Darners.

e US, Ont., common in south. Somewhat migratory, esp. along Atlantic coast.

Shaded ponds, streams, swamps, temporary ponds

mostly: Apr-Aug (BG data)

Predatory. May form swarms to feed on swarms of winged termites and ants. Often feeds very high.

Females oviposit in a variety of sites, in mud, in stems, or in mud of dried-up ponds.

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 to be Swamp Darners heading due west. Most were flying too high to catch. I went to the corner of Cottage and Osborne (in East Norwalk Connecticut) where I had a clear and unobstructed view of the sky to the east. A few came in low and I was able to catch and photograph one. The little bastard bit me with a surprisingly firm and painful pinch. I did see a few that were not moving from E to W and appeared to be feeding, but the vast majority were going in that direction. There was about one every 10 seconds and sometimes two or three came flying through together. I also noted that Green Darners were present, though not in large numbers." … Christopher Hadin, 12 September, 2005

Dunkle, p. 38, plate 2 (1)

Odonata Central - OC