# Blue-eyed Darner (*Rhionaeschna multicolor*) The Blue-eyed Darner is a beautiful dragonfly with bright blue eyes and colorful wings. It loves to fly around near water and is fun to watch as it zooms through the air! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Blue-eyed Darner](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dragonfly_9-13-05_Morro_Bay%252C_CA_cce2-dragonfly-3829-9-13-05-20x16.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mike Baird, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dragonfly_9-13-05_Morro_Bay%252C_CA_cce2-dragonfly-3829-9-13-05-20x16.jpg) ## Appearance The Blue-eyed Darner is a large, powerful dragonfly with striking iridescent blue eyes in males. Its robust body is dark brown or black, marked with bright blue spots or stripes, making it visually distinct. Females have similar patterns but often with greenish or yellowish eyes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Aeshnidae - **Genus:** Rhionaeschna ## Interesting facts - A Blue-eyed Darner's wings beat independently for incredible flight control. - Dragonflies are ancient insects; their ancestors lived before dinosaurs! - It catches flying prey mid-air using its spiky legs like a net. - They can even see light that is polarized, helping them find water! ## Special abilities - **Super Sight:** Blue-eyed Darners have huge compound eyes for nearly 360-degree vision, helping them spot tiny prey and predators. - **Aerial Acrobat:** Blue-eyed Darners can hover, fly backward, and change direction instantly because their four wings move independently. - **Nymph Grabber:** Blue-eyed Darner nymphs have an extendable lower lip (labium) that shoots out to snatch aquatic prey. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 90-110 mm - **Size:** 65-75 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Flight Speed:** 40 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding They are fierce aerial hunters, catching and eating other flying insects while in flight. - **Age differences:** Nymphs (larvae) are aquatic predators, eating small fish, tadpoles, and other aquatic insects; adults hunt flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** Mosquitoes, Flies, Midges, Moths, Butterflies, Bees - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common malaria mosquito (*Anopheles quadrimaculatus*) — Reduces populations of disease-carrying mosquitoes. - **Hunts:** House fly (*Musca domestica*) — Helps control common pest insects around water. - **Eaten by:** [American bullfrog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bullfrog) (*Lithobates catesbeianus*) — Larval and adult darners can be food for larger predators. - **Eaten by:** [House sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Adult dragonflies are a food source for many bird species. - **Eaten by:** [Bluegill](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bluegill) (*Lepomis macrochirus*) — Fish commonly prey on dragonfly nymphs in aquatic habitats. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Dragonflies are safe to watch, but don't try to catch them; they are delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Blue-eyed Darner? 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-eyed Darner's wingspan? 90-110 mm ### How big is Blue-eyed Darner? 65-75 mm ### How long does Blue-eyed Darner live? 30-90 days ### How fast can Blue-eyed Darner fly? 40 km/h ### What does Blue-eyed Darner eat? They are fierce aerial hunters, catching and eating other flying insects while in flight. ### Where is Blue-eyed Darner usually found? Wetlands ### How does Blue-eyed Darner hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Theater District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/theater-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-defiance-zoo-and-aquarium) — Washington, US · Zoo - [Gen. Charles S. Farnsworth County Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gen-charles-s-farnsworth-county-park) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Humboldt Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/humboldt-botanical-gardens) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Iron Horse Regional Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/iron-horse-regional-trail) — California, US · Trail - [San Mateo Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-mateo-arboretum) — California, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Blue-eyed Darner](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/blue-eyed-darner) ## 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-eyed Darner: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-eyed-darner)