Variable Darner

Aeshna interrupta

The Variable Darner is a colorful dragonfly that loves to fly around ponds and wetlands. It has beautiful blue and green colors that make it stand out in nature.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Variable Darner has a long, slender body with striking blue or green markings on a dark brown or black background. Its abdomen features broken, zigzag stripes, giving it a 'variable' appearance. Its large compound eyes are typically blue or green, covering most of its head.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyAeshnidaeGenusAeshna

Variable Darner

Interesting facts

A Variable Darner's wings beat incredibly fast, up to 30 times a second!

Dragonflies existed before dinosaurs, making them incredibly ancient flyers!

Some darners spend years as aquatic nymphs before transforming into flying adults!

They often 'perch and scan' from a sunny spot, waiting for insect snacks to fly by.

Special abilities

Variable Darner has enormous compound eyes that let it see almost 360 degrees, helping them spot prey and predators instantly.

Variable Darner can fly forwards, backward, and hover due to four independently moving wings, making it a master hunter in the air.

Variable Darner can warm up by shivering its wing muscles or cool down by perching in shade, which helps them stay active.

Variable Darner has a sharp ovipositor that helps females cut slits into aquatic plants to safely lay their eggs underwater.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 70-95 mm
Size: 55-70 mm
Lifespan: 30-60 days
Flight Speed: 40 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

These expert flyers are fierce hunters, snatching other flying insects right out of the air!

Age differences: Nymphs eat aquatic insects and small fish; adults hunt flying insects.

Primary Foods

mosquitos
flies
moths
small butterflies
other small dragonflies

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

eaten by

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Adult darners can be caught mid-flight by these agile birds.

eats

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

Larger fish like pike ambush darner nymphs hiding in the water.

hunts

Yellow Fever Mosquito

Aedes aegypti

Darners are important predators, helping control adult mosquito populations.

Traits

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Aerial

Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

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.