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Photo#457714
Which darner? - Aeshna eremita

Which darner? - Aeshna eremita
Presqu'ile Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
September 19, 2010
Seen along the Marsh Boardwalk at Presqu'ile PP on Lake Ontario.

Images of this individual: tag all
Which darner? - Aeshna eremita Which darner? - Aeshna eremita Which darner? - Aeshna eremita

Moved
Moved from Mosaic Darners.

Moved
Moved from Darners.

Lake Darner?
Seems to be a Lake Darner (Aeshna eremita). The anterior lateral thoracic stripe appears to be either obscured or the thorax has sustained damaged. Do you have any shots of the right side of the insect?

It's not an Azure Darner (A. septentrionalis) or a Zigzag (A. sitchensis). These species are both more boreal, and are found in areas with large amounts of sphagnum (bogs, fens, muskeg etc.). They have the blue spots on the abdomen extremely expanded so it appears mostly blue (especially on Azure), and the ragged thoracic stripes are never as clearcut as this. They also have proportionately small eyes for a darner.

 
Thank you!
Sorry I haven't responded, but yet, those were the only two angles I was able to photograph before it flew off. I'd left my net in the car because I wasn't expecting to see any dragons that early in the morning! Lake Darner is found at Presqu'ile PP, but is listed as a vagrant. Thanks for the confirmation - it is a lifer!

 
I agree...Lake Darner !
Despite the details "missing" due to damage of some sort, I agree with you Ben, that this is indeed eremita. It is certainly not septentrionalis or sitchensis, as the proportions are all wrong and it is not "blue enough". The width of the second thoracic stripe is also indicative of eremita. While not used very often (and somewhat variable), the shape of the abdominal spots also indicate eremita. Finally, Northern Ontario is rife with eremita and probability also supports this too.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Azure Darner(?)
I'm guessing Azure Darner (Aeshna septentrionalis), though it doesn't match the guides very well. But thoratic stripes can be variable in some species.