Common green darner

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More names for this insect

Anishinaabemowin: Oboodashkwaanishiinh (dragonfly or damselfly)

Dakota: Susbeça (dragonfly)

The Dakota and Anishinaabe were among the earliest people to name Minnesota’s plants and animals, as well as to understand them in relation to Minnesota’s climate and seasons. Those original names are still in use, and several are included on the Season Watch website.

Latin (or scientific name): Anax junius

The scientific community has a convention of assigning agreed-upon Latin names to every kind of organism. Using scientific names helps people communicate confidently about the same organism and organize lifeforms based on how closely related they are.

More common names: Horse stingers

Page contents

About the common green darner

Visual guide to phenology

Graphs and historical data

More resources

A large dragonfly with four wings that are transparent with black veins. It has large dark eyes, green on its head and thorax, and its abdoment is black and turquoise.
Adult common green darner.
April 30, 2015, Freeborn County, Minnesota
Photo © PaulS, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)
iNaturalist observation

About the common green darner

  • The adult dragonflies are about three inches long with large eyes and four wings. While both sexes have a bright green head and body, female common green darners have a reddish-brown tail while males sport a brilliant blue.
  • Common green darners are often found whizzing through the air near lakes and ponds. They use their speed and agility to catch flying insects like mosquitoes, gnats and moths.
  • In Minnesota, common green darners are unique in the fact that some individuals will migrate south in the fall, while other individuals overwinter as immature nymphs and emerge as adults in the spring.
  • Fun fact: Common green darners are sometimes called “horse stingers” even though they possess no stingers.

Visual guide to phenology

Watch for common green darners' presence (or absence), abundance, and behaviors at different times of year.

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Note to observers

This page explains general clues to watch and listen for when observing common green darner phenology. However, this page does not explain how to identify this insect or collect data in a standardized way.

  • Consult a field guide for help with identification.
  • For guidance on collecting data, see Nature’s Notebook.
Close-up of a common green darner perched on maple leave that are still unfolding. Light reflects off the dragonfly's wings.
A pair of common green darners mating. One dragonfly's tail rests on the back of the other, directly behind its head. They are perched on a piece of vegetation on the water's surface.
A dramatic photo of a dragonfly newly emerged from its nypmph stage. Its wings are cloudy white and not yet stiff enough to fly. It is perched on the empty skeleton out of which it emerged.
Two newly emerged dragonflies cling to exoskeletons while their wings expand and harden. They have bright lime green on their heads, thoraces, and abdomens.
Photograph of a dragonfly nymph. The nymph has large dark eyes, six legs, and a long segmented body. It has no wings, but it has small wing buds where wings will form.
Photograph of a dragonfly nymph. The nymph has large dark eyes, six legs, and a long segmented body. It has no wings, but it has small wing buds where wings will form.
Photograph of a dragonfly nymph. The nymph has large dark eyes, six legs, and a long segmented body with dark bands. It has no wings, but it has small wing buds where wings will form.
A large dragonfly perched on vertical vegetation. The scene is autumnal with yellow and brown leaves.

Graphs and historical data

Note: The Orientation Center provides a map, as well as information on reading graphs; interpreting summary statistics, who collected the data and how; and how to download datasets for independent exploration.


Hubbard County

First seen

  • Earliest: April 1 (occurred in 2012)
  • Average: April 28
  • Latest: May 17 (occurred in 1997)
Scatterplot showing common green darner phenology in Hubbard County, Minnesota

Download this dataset (.csv file)

Last seen

  • Earliest: August 14 (occurred in 1997)
  • Average: September 26
  • Latest: October 29 (occurred in 2007)
Scatterplot showing common green darner phenology in Hubbard County, Minnesota

Download this dataset (.csv file)

More resources

Common green darner (Anax junius) in Nature's Notebook

 

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Keep exploring Season Watch

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Times of year

Co-author: Audrey Negro, Minnesota Master Naturalist