# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Paddle-tailed Darner](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Aeshna_palmata.jpg&width=800) Photo: Steve Hillebrand, USFWS, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aeshna_palmata.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Aeshnidae - **Genus:** Aeshna ## 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 - **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. - **Acrobatic Flight:** Paddle-tailed Darners can fly forwards, backwards, hover, and change direction instantly because each wing moves independently. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Can be prey for various bird species near water bodies. - **Eats:** [Yellow Perch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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 - [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. - [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. - [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 harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Paddle-tailed 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 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 ## Where to spot - [St. Elmo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/st-elmo) — Colorado, US · Neighborhood - [Staunton State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/staunton-state-park) — Colorado, US · State Park - [Nancy Greene Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nancy-greene-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Pennask Creek Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pennask-creek-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Stagleap Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stagleap-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Paddle-tailed Darner](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/paddle-tailed-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: [Paddle-tailed Darner: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/paddle-tailed-darner)