# Canada Darner (*Aeshna canadensis*) The Canada Darner is a beautiful dragonfly with bright colors! It loves to fly around near water and catch small insects to eat. Watching them zoom by is like seeing a little superhero in the sky! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Canada Darner](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Aeshnid-ovipositing-800x600.jpg&width=800) Photo: Raphael Carter, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aeshnid-ovipositing-800x600.jpg) ## Appearance The Canada Darner is a large dragonfly with a striking blue abdomen marked with yellow or green spots, often arranged in pairs. Its thorax is typically brown with two prominent green or yellow stripes on each side, contrasting with its large, greenish-blue eyes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Aeshnidae - **Genus:** Aeshna ## Interesting facts - Adult Canada Darners can migrate hundreds of kilometers in groups during fall. - Canada Darners spend years as camouflaged underwater nymphs before emerging as adults. - Their huge eyes have tens of thousands of tiny lenses, creating an amazing mosaic view. - These ancient insects have been flying Earth's skies for over 300 million years! ## Special abilities - **Super Sight:** Canada Darner has huge compound eyes that give it almost 360-degree vision, helping them spot prey or predators in any direction. - **Air Master:** Canada Darner can hover, fly backward, and change direction instantly because each of its four wings moves independently. - **Underwater Breath:** Canada Darner nymphs can breathe underwater using special gills, allowing them to live hidden for years before transforming. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 90-110 mm - **Size:** 60-76 mm - **Lifespan:** 365-1460 days - **Flight Speed:** 25-50 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding A swift aerial hunter, it snatches pesky mosquitoes, flies, and other small insects right out of the air! - **Age differences:** Nymphs eat aquatic insects and tadpoles, while adults hunt flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** Mosquitoes, Midges, Flies, Moths, Butterflies, Small wasps - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Adults actively hunt and eat mosquito adults. - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Adults swiftly catch and consume various types of flies. - **Eaten by:** [American Kestrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-kestrel) (*Falco sparverius*) — Adult Canada Darners can be prey for swift-flying birds. - **Eaten by:** [Northern Pike](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-pike) (*Esox lucius*) — Nymphs living underwater are prey for larger fish. ## Traits - [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 friendly and won't hurt you, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Canada 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 Canada Darner's wingspan? 90-110 mm ### How big is Canada Darner? 60-76 mm ### How long does Canada Darner live? 365-1460 days ### How fast can Canada Darner fly? 25-50 km/h ### What does Canada Darner eat? A swift aerial hunter, it snatches pesky mosquitoes, flies, and other small insects right out of the air! ### Where is Canada Darner usually found? Wetlands ### How does Canada Darner hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Algonquin Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/algonquin-provincial-park) — Ontario, CA · State Park - [Bristol Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bristol-downtown-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Parc de l'île Saint-Quentin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-de-l-le-saint-quentin) — Quebec, CA · Park [View all places to see Canada Darner](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/canada-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: [Canada Darner: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/canada-darner)