Shadow darner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shadow darner |
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| Genus: |
Aeshna
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| Species: |
umbrosa
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The shadow darner (Aeshna umbrosa) is a type of dragonfly. It belongs to a group of dragonflies called Aeshnidae. You can find these cool insects in almost all of Canada and most parts of the United States.
Contents
How to Spot a Shadow Darner
The shadow darner is a big dragonfly, usually about 68 to 78 millimeters (about 2.7 to 3 inches) long. Its main color is brownish-black.
On its upper body (called the thorax), it has greenish spots shaped like crescent moons. The sides of its thorax have two diagonal stripes that are yellowish or yellowish-green. Its long body (called the abdomen) has bluish-green spots. Male shadow darners have special paddle-shaped parts at the end of their bodies.
The young shadow darner, called a naiad, is also quite large, about 38 to 43 millimeters (about 1.5 to 1.7 inches) long. It has a long, thin shape, which is common for young darners. Its body is a mix of mottled green and brown colors. The shadow darner naiad has flat, spiky parts at its tail, which are brighter than those of a similar dragonfly, the lance-tipped darner.
Where Do Shadow Darners Live?
You can find shadow darners in most parts of the United States, except for the very dry southwestern areas. They also live in all the provinces and territories across Canada.
Home and Food
Shadow darners like to fly along small, marshy streams. They often hunt for food near the edges of woodlands or even deep inside shady forests. You might also spot them near ditches, slow-moving streams, and ponds. These dragonflies have a long flight season, flying from late April all the way to November.
Young shadow darners (naiads) eat many different kinds of water insects. This includes mosquito larvae, other young fly larvae, mayfly larvae, and freshwater shrimp. They also enjoy eating small fish and tadpoles.
Adult shadow darners eat almost any soft-bodied flying insect they can catch. Their diet includes mosquitoes, flies, butterflies, moths, mayflies, and stoneflies.
Shadow Darner Life
The young shadow darner (naiad) is an active hunter. It can swim by pushing water out from the end of its body, a bit like a jet! These young dragonflies usually take several years to grow up. When a young darner changes into an adult dragonfly, it does this at night. This helps them stay safe from animals that hunt during the day.
Adult shadow darners usually fly from late April to November. They do all their hunting while flying. Shadow darners can control their body temperature, which means they can fly even when it's too cold for most other dragonflies. They are very good at handling cold weather! These dragonflies fly during dusk and in shaded areas. They also fly later into the fall season than almost any other dragonfly, except for the yellow-legged meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum).
Reproduction
Male shadow darners claim and protect their own areas along the edges of slow streams and ponds. After mating, female shadow darners fly alone to lay their eggs. They place their eggs inside the stems and leaves of water plants.
