Variable Darner

Aeshna interrupta

The Variable Darner is a colorful dragonfly that loves to fly around ponds and wetlands. It has beautiful blue and green colors that make it stand out in nature.

Hábitat: Wetlands

Aspecto

The Variable Darner has a long, slender body with striking blue or green markings on a dark brown or black background. Its abdomen features broken, zigzag stripes, giving it a 'variable' appearance. Its large compound eyes are typically blue or green, covering most of its head.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseInsectaOrdenOdonataFamiliaAeshnidaeGéneroAeshna

Variable Darner

Categoría

Insectos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

A Variable Darner's wings beat incredibly fast, up to 30 times a second!

Dragonflies existed before dinosaurs, making them incredibly ancient flyers!

Some darners spend years as aquatic nymphs before transforming into flying adults!

They often 'perch and scan' from a sunny spot, waiting for insect snacks to fly by.

Habilidades especiales

Variable Darner has enormous compound eyes that let it see almost 360 degrees, helping them spot prey and predators instantly.

Variable Darner can fly forwards, backward, and hover due to four independently moving wings, making it a master hunter in the air.

Variable Darner can warm up by shivering its wing muscles or cool down by perching in shade, which helps them stay active.

Variable Darner has a sharp ovipositor that helps females cut slits into aquatic plants to safely lay their eggs underwater.

Medidas y detalles

Envergadura: 70-95 mm
Tamaño: 55-70 mm
Esperanza de vida: 30-60 días
Velocidad de vuelo: 40 km/h
Cantidad de patas: 6

Dieta y alimentación

These expert flyers are fierce hunters, snatching other flying insects right out of the air!

Diferencias por edad: Nymphs eat aquatic insects and small fish; adults hunt flying insects.

Alimentos principales

mosquitos
flies
moths
small butterflies
other small dragonflies

Método de búsqueda

Pursuit

Conexiones ecológicas

eaten by

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Adult darners can be caught mid-flight by these agile birds.

eats

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

Larger fish like pike ambush darner nymphs hiding in the water.

hunts

Yellow Fever Mosquito

Aedes aegypti

Darners are important predators, helping control adult mosquito populations.

Rasgos

Solitario

Los animales solitarios viven solos durante la mayor parte de su vida y solo interactúan con otros para aparearse o cuidar de sus crías.

Aéreo

Las criaturas aéreas pasan una parte importante de su vida en el aire, utilizando el vuelo para diversas actividades como la caza, la migración o la anidación.

Colorido

Colorido describe a organismos u objetos que exhiben una amplia variedad de colores brillantes y distintivos.

Insectívoro

Este rasgo identifica a los organismos cuya dieta consiste principalmente en insectos y otros pequeños invertebrados.

Humedal

Este rasgo de hábitat identifica especies que se encuentran en humedales, que son áreas de tierra saturadas de agua, ya sea permanente o estacionalmente, e incluyen marismas, pantanos y ciénagas.