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Insect Identification > Description of the Giant Darner
 

Details of the Giant Darner

CATEGORY:
Dragonfly or Damselfly

COMMON NAME:
"Giant Darner"

SCIENTIFIC NAME:
(Anax walsinghami)

TAXONOMY:
(View Orders)
Kingdom: Animalia
  Phylum: Arthropoda
   Class:Insecta
    Order: Odonata
     Family: Aeshnidae
      Genus: Anax
       Species: walsinghami

OTHER NAME(S):
Darner


CHARACTERISTICS: The Giant Darner is hailed as the largest example of dragonfly to be found in the United States of America. The beautiful creature can measure in at about 5" in length with a mighty wingspan of up to 5" as well. Highly identifiable by their blue and black coloring, the Giant Darner will not pass your attention when it comes flying by.

The Giant Darner appears similar to the Common Green Darner (detailed elsewhere on this site) and shares it's large size and interesting coloring pattern. The Giant Darner is obviously separated from the Common Green Darner through being larger and showcasing a longer abdomen to go along with it's cool blue shading.

Giant Darners can be found as far south as Mexico and cover portions of the lower western United States. Activity keeps the Giant Darner busy through the spring and summer months. Like most other dragonflies, the Giant Darner lays it's eggs in water sources, allowing larvae to burrow into the source's bottom.


ADULT SIZE (Length, not including legs):
90mm to 127mm (3.54in to 5.00in) (Compare Size)

IDENTIFYING COLORS: green, tan, black, blue

North American Reach
Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, California, Arizona, Colorado
 
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Picture of Giant Darner

     

 

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