Blue-eyed darner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue-eyed darner |
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The blue-eyed darner (Aeshna multicolor) is a cool type of dragonfly. It belongs to a group of dragonflies called Aeshnidae. These amazing insects are known for their bright blue eyes!
You can often spot the blue-eyed darner in the western United States. They live in places like the sagebrush areas of the Snake River Plain. You might also find them further east, from central Canada and the Dakotas all the way down to west Texas and Oklahoma. They even live in Central America, as far south as Panama.
This dragonfly is usually one of the first darner dragonflies to appear in spring. Only the California darner shows up earlier. Blue-eyed darners are great hunters. They catch small flying insects while they are flying around.
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What Does a Blue-Eyed Darner Look Like?
The blue-eyed darner is a pretty big dragonfly. It can be about 65 to 70 millimeters (about 2.5 to 2.7 inches) long. Both the males and females have bright blue eyes, which is how they got their name!
Male Blue-Eyed Darners
Male blue-eyed darners are mostly dark brown or brownish-black.
- They have two blue stripes on top of their body, right behind their head.
- Each side of their body has two blue stripes that go diagonally.
- Their tail part (called the abdomen) has both large and small blue spots.
Female Blue-Eyed Darners
Female blue-eyed darners look similar to the males.
- Their main body color is brown instead of dark brown or black.
- Their markings are green instead of blue.
- Both males and females have a special forked shape at the end of their tails.
Where Do Blue-Eyed Darners Live?
Blue-eyed darners live in western North America and Central America. You can find them in many different places, from low areas to higher places.
They like to live near water, such as:
- Lakes
- Ponds
- Slow-moving streams
- Canals
- Marshy areas
They prefer open areas rather than thick forests. Sometimes, you might see them far away from water. They can show up in city yards, parking lots, and other places in towns. This is more common for them than for most other dragonflies.
You can see them flying from spring until late in the year. In California, many seem to appear in the fall, which might mean they travel to different places.
How Do Blue-Eyed Darners Behave?
Male blue-eyed darners like to fly back and forth over open water. They also patrol along the edges of water bodies and among thick plants. They often have a regular path they follow. Sometimes, they stop for a moment to hover in the air.
When a male and female mate, they fly together to find a good spot to rest. They often choose a high place in trees near the water.
Laying Eggs
Female blue-eyed darners lay their eggs in water.
- They lay eggs among thick plants that grow out of the water.
- They also lay eggs on floating stems and branches in open water.
- They place their eggs both above and below the water's surface.
