# Blue Dasher (*Pachydiplax longipennis*) The Blue Dasher is a small dragonfly with bright blue colors. They love to perch on plants and are great fliers! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 150 - **Habitat:** Ponds and lakes - **Also known as:** Eastern Blue Dasher ![Blue Dasher](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426679/objects/5505.jpg) ## Appearance The Blue Dasher is a small to medium-sized dragonfly with a striking appearance. Males are powdery blue with a dark abdomen tip, while females and young males are yellowish-brown with a distinct dark stripe down their back. They often have clear wings with a dark spot near the tip. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Pachydiplax ## Interesting facts - Adult Dashers eat hundreds of flying pests daily, including mosquitoes and flies! - Ancestors of the Blue Dasher were giant, flying insects with wingspans over two feet! - Blue Dasher babies live underwater for months, breathing through gills in their rear! - Dragonflies, like the Dasher, have wings that beat independently for amazing flight control! ## Special abilities - **Eagle Eyes:** Blue Dasher has huge compound eyes that help them spot tiny prey and predators from far away in almost every direction. - **Air Superiority:** Blue Dasher can fly backwards, hover, and dart instantly because their four wings move independently, allowing for incredible aerial agility. - **Underwater Hunter:** Blue Dasher larvae ambush underwater prey using an extendable, hinged jaw that shoots out to snatch unsuspecting insects. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 60-75 mm - **Size:** 30-43 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Flight Speed:** 30 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding They eat tiny flying insects like mosquitoes and flies to stay strong and healthy. - **Age differences:** Larvae are aquatic predators, eating small aquatic insects and tadpoles. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, flies, gnats, midges, small moths - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — adults hunt this aerial prey - **Eaten by:** [Barn Swallow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barn-swallow) (*Hirundo rustica*) — adults are caught mid-flight - **Eaten by:** [American Bullfrog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bullfrog) (*Lithobates catesbeianus*) — larvae and adults are prey - **Eaten by:** Bluegill Sunfish (*Lepomis macrochirus*) — naiads are hunted in water ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects-and-bugs) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Blue Dasher? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Blue Dasher's wingspan? 60-75 mm ### How big is Blue Dasher? 30-43 mm ### How long does Blue Dasher live? 30-90 days ### How fast can Blue Dasher fly? 30 km/h ### What does Blue Dasher eat? They eat tiny flying insects like mosquitoes and flies to stay strong and healthy. ### Where is Blue Dasher usually found? Ponds and lakes ### How does Blue Dasher hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Batesville East Main Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/batesville-east-main-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/battle-creek-cypress-swamp-sanctuary) — Maryland, US · Nature Reserve - [Black Creek Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-creek-park) — New York, US · Park - [Cape Charles Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-charles-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Centennial Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/centennial-arboretum) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Chantilly Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chantilly-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see Blue Dasher](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/blue-dasher) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Blue Dasher: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-dasher)