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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) » Dragonflies (Anisoptera) » Darners (Aeshnidae) » Mosaic Darners (Aeshna) » Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa)

Species Aeshna umbrosa - Shadow Darner

Shadow Darner in flight - Aeshna umbrosa - male Shadow Darner - Aeshna umbrosa - male Lake Darner? - Aeshna umbrosa Female Shadow Darner lateral view from home - Aeshna umbrosa - female Aeshna umbrosa? - Aeshna umbrosa - male Pennsylvania Dragonfly - Aeshna umbrosa Pennsylvania Dragonfly - Aeshna umbrosa Aeshnidae: Aeshna umbrosa - Aeshna umbrosa - female
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)
Internet References
Gloria Mundi Press
California Darners
Odonata United States--note that dot map is incomplete
Dragonhunter.net
The Blue Darners: dragonflies of the genus Aeshna in British Columbia--very good on life history
Works Cited
1.Dragonflies Through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America
Sidney W. Dunkle. 2000. Oxford Press.
Contributed by Cotinis on 29 August, 2004 - 6:42am

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