Nebraska Dragonflies and Damselflies

Blue-eyed Darner

Rhionaeschna multicolor

Hagen, 1861

The male Blue-eyed Darner has a sky-blue face, eyes and markings on the thorax and abdomen. In addition, it is the only darner found in Nebraska in which the male has forked appendages. Females may have blue or greenish-yellow markings. The wings of the females are often yellowish as well.

Common. This is a western species ranging east across Iowa with Nebraska onthe northern edge of the range. It is widespread, although there are fewer records from the east and particularly from the southeast. It is the most abundant darner in the state and is often present in incredible numbers.They are frequently seen in large feeding swarms, and during the heat of the day they can be found hanging from branches of pines or cedars in shelterbelts or other plantings. There was one report from the 1998 Dragonfly Society meeting at Valentine of catching 16 individuals in one net swing.

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