docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

Were going to look at two species of darners - Common Green Darner (Anax junius) and the Comet Darner (Anax longipes). They are called darners because of their resemblance to darning needles. They are swift flyers and voracious predators of other insects including other dragonflies. The Common Green Darner can be found most anywhere in the US and Ontario and down into Mexico. They can be seen in large numbers migrating with the birds in the flyways. In Pennsylvania they can be the earliest flyers as they can show up with the Spring bird migration weeks before local emergents. The male and females have a "T-spot" on the frons (forehead for lack of a better word) that can be seen in the close up shot that the Comet lacks.
The Comet Darner (Anax junius) is pretty much limited in range to the eastern US to Missouri south to Florida and south central Texas. They have not been reported as a migrating species.
Anax comes from the ancient Greek meaning "lord" or "ruler" but is more commonly referred to by the modern translation of "king". junius is from the Latin for June. Not sure how that plays into it. In the Comet longipes from the Latin translates to "long" and "feet". In this case long legs. They can be seen in one of the pictures. It allows him to capture larger prey. I've seen a Comet carrying two dragonflies at one time for his snack! I did finally get a "picture" of the illusive female but it was of poor quality as it was very high up in a tree and more of a "where's Waldo" shot.

Common Green Darner (Anax junius) M by Tony Schoch, on Flickr

Common Green Darner (Anax junius) M by Tony Schoch, on Flickr

Common Green Darner (Anax junius) F by Tony Schoch, on Flickr

Comet Darner (Anax obscurus) M by Tony Schoch, on Flickr

Comet Darner ( (Anax longipes) M by Tony Schoch, on Flickr

Enjoy! >i< Doc

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

Thank you for the thumb up! Cold snap down here in Texas. I hope to get out at least one more time before heading back to Pennsylvania.
>i< Doc

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Excellent photos and an interesting narrative, Doc!

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

Great shots! Dragonflies are the bad boys of the insect world. If they smoked, each one would have a pack of Lucky Strikes folded up in their white T shirt sleeves.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Beautiful images, Doc. Probably my favorite dragonfly. I hope you have enjoyed your trip down south.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Beautiful set Doc. Saw some dragons down here over the past couple of days but all were high speed flybys

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

tcthome Loc: NJ

Nice work.

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

It’s been a fun and fruitful trip. Heading home soon. Thanks for checking in my friend.
>i< Doc

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

That they are. Hang around a nice body of water on a sunny day, kill and eat anything you want, and make little dragons!
>i< Doc

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

It’s been quite a trip. Crazy swings in temperatures. Got to meet up with some old dragon hunting buddies and got to see my G-son’s senior year of football. Next year he will be playing for Rice.
>i< Doc

randave2001 Loc: Richmond

Very nice Doc. These are a couple of species I have never seen around here.

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

Thanks Jack! Yes some days are good hunting days and some just aren’t.
>i< Doc

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

Thanks Frank much appreciated.
>i< Doc