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Shadow Darner
Aeshna umbrosa
41.5628, -83.6538
Field Notes
Description:
The shadow darner is a large dragonfly with a length of 2 5/8 to 3 1/8 inches (68 to 78 mm). The base is brownish black in color. Greenish crescent-shaped spots are at the top of the thorax. The sides of the thorax are marked with two yellowish to yellowish green diagonal stripes. Its abdomen is marked with bluish green spots. The male shadow darner has paddle-shaped anal appendages.
Habitat:
The shadow darner patrols along small marshy streams. Its often found feeding along woodland edges or even in deep shadow in full forest. Shadow darners can also be found near ditches, slow streams, and ponds.
Notes:
This dragonfly will eat almost any soft-bodied flying insect including mosquitoes, flies, butterflies, moths, mayflies, and stoneflies.
Male shadow darners establish and defend territories along the shores of slow streams and ponds. After both genders mate, females fly singly, without the male attached, to lay their eggs in the stems and leaves of aquatic plants.
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