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Paddle-tailed Darner

Aeshna palmata

The Paddle-tailed Darner is a beautiful dragonfly with a paddle-shaped tail. It loves to fly around ponds and wetlands, showing off its bright colors and fast movements.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Paddle-tailed Darner has a long, slender body with striking blue and green markings on a dark brown background. Males are distinct for their flattened, paddle-like abdomen tip. It also possesses large, wrap-around eyes and four clear, delicate wings, typical of darners.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyAeshnidaeGenusAeshna
Paddle-tailed Darner
solitary trait badgeaerial trait badgecolorful trait badgeinsectivorous trait badge
Paddle-tailed Darner

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

A single Darner can eat hundreds of pesky mosquitoes and flies in just one day!

Dragonflies like the Darner existed on Earth even before the first dinosaurs appeared!

They mate in a unique 'wheel' position while flying or perched on vegetation.

Young darners, called nymphs, live underwater for several years before becoming adults.

Special abilities

Ability

Omni-Gaze Vision

Paddle-tailed Darners can see almost 360 degrees because their giant compound eyes help them spot prey and predators from any direction.

Ability

Acrobatic Flight

Paddle-tailed Darners can fly forwards, backwards, hover, and change direction instantly because each wing moves independently.

Ability

Lightning Strike Hunter

Paddle-tailed Darners can snatch flying insects right out of the air because of their incredible speed and agility.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
90-100 mm
Size
65-75 mm
Lifespan
30-90 days
Flight Speed
45 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

An aerial hunter, it dines on a variety of flying insects caught mid-flight.

Age differences: Nymphs are aquatic predators, eating tadpoles, small fish, and aquatic insects.

Primary Foods

  • mosquitoes
  • flies
  • gnats
  • moths
  • butterflies

Foraging Method

  • Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Common Mosquito

Culex pipiens

Hunts adult mosquitoes, helping control their populations.

eaten by

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

Can be prey for various bird species near water bodies.

eats

Yellow Perch

Perca flavescens

Nymphs are a food source for fish in aquatic habitats.

hunts

Bullfrog

Lithobates catesbeianus

Nymphs hunt tadpoles and other small aquatic organisms.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Dragonflies are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Paddle-tailed Darner's wingspan?

90-100 mm

How big is Paddle-tailed Darner?

65-75 mm

How long does Paddle-tailed Darner live?

30-90 days

How fast can Paddle-tailed Darner fly?

45 km/h

What does Paddle-tailed Darner eat?

An aerial hunter, it dines on a variety of flying insects caught mid-flight.

Where is Paddle-tailed Darner usually found?

Wetlands

How does Paddle-tailed Darner hunt?

Pursuit

How many legs does Paddle-tailed Darner have?

6

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