Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

See Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in Wisconsin, July 10-12


Previous events


TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData

Species Aeshna umbrosa - Shadow Darner

Darner IMG_0935 - Aeshna umbrosa - female Shadow Darner? - Aeshna umbrosa Shadow Darner - Aeshna umbrosa Canada Darner - Aeshna umbrosa Dragonfly - Aeshna umbrosa Darner - Aeshna umbrosa Mosaic Darner - Aeshna umbrosa Dragonfly19-008 - Aeshna umbrosa
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)
Suborder Anisoptera (Dragonflies)
Family Aeshnidae (Darners)
Genus Aeshna (Mosaic Darners)
Species umbrosa (Shadow Darner)
Size
Length 7.5 cm
Identification
Has eastern and western forms. See print references.
Range
Northern North America: boreal forests south to midwest
Habitat
Shaded streams in forests, also shaded ponds, swamps etc.
Season
April to November
Food
Predatory on flying insects. Feeds often at dusk, prefers shade.
Life Cycle
Flies late in year. Female darners typically oviposit into aquatic plants, using their blade-like ovipositors. Female Shadow Darners frequently oviposit into wet, decaying wood. (Blue Darners of British Columbia--see Internet references.)
Print References
Dunkle, pp. 45-46, plate 4 (1)