Nebraska Dragonflies and Damselflies

Common Green Darner

Anax junius

Drury, 1773

The Common Green Darner is our most visible darner. The male has an unstriped green thorax and a blue abdomen with a black stripe along the top. There is a black spot on the forehead enclosed by a blue semicircle which forms a 'bulls's eye'. The male patrols a territory over water, alternately flapping and gliding. The female has a green thorax and an abdomen which varies from reddish brown to gray. The wings may be tinted yellow. This is one of the few dragonfly species which is known to migrate.

This is a common transcontinental species. It is one of the earliest species to appear, as migrants from farther south, and the most widespreaddarner. It is expected in every county but is rarely common at any givensite. It is a pond species, preferring small fish-free ponds for egglaying but likely to be seen circling almost any pond or lake lowover the surface and a few feet out from shore.

Green indicates accepted county record (specimen or photograph).
Yellow indicates sight record only.