View in other NatureServe Network Field Guides
NatureServe
Montana
Utah
Wyoming
Idaho
Wisconsin
British Columbia
South Carolina
Yukon
California
New York
California Darner - Rhionaeschna californica
State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
The California Darner is currently ranked S3S5 as a "potential species of concern" in Montana because it is potentially at risk of extirpation in the state due to limited and/or declining numbers, range and/or habitat, even though it may be abundant in some areas.
General Description
We do not yet have descriptive information on this species. Please try the buttons above to search for information from other sources.
Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Native
Range Comments
This species is widespread in western North America, as far east as South Dakota and has been reported in the following states: California (SNR), Colorado (SU), Idaho (SNR), Montana (S3S5), Nevada (SNR), Oregon (SNR), South Dakota (SNR), Utah (SH), Washington (S5), Wyoming (SNR) and in Canada's British Columbia (S4).
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 109
(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version)
Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Habitat
The California Darner prefers habitats like lakes, ponds, marshes and stream pools with edge vegetation including many with alkaline water conditions(Dunkle 2000, Paulson 2009).
National Vegetation Classification System Groups Associated with this Species
Wetland and Riparian
Alkaline - Saline Wetlands
Peatland
Riparian and Wetland Forest
Riparian Shrubland
Wet Meadow and Marsh
Food Habits
Larvae feed on a wide variety of aquatic insects, such as mosquito larvae, other aquatic fly larvae, mayfly larvae, and freshwater shrimp. They will also eat very small fish and tadpoles.
Adult- The dragonfly will eat almost any soft-bodied flying insect including mosquitoes, flies, small moths, mayflies, and flying ants or termites.
Reproductive Characteristics
Male California Darners patrol without any apparent pattern just above the waterline along shorelines moving through vegetation in the search for females. Females oviposit into vertical stems or onto floating leaves (Dunkle 2000, Paulson 2009).
Stewardship Responsibility
References
- Additional ReferencesLegend:
View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?- Dunkle, S.W. 2000. Dragonflies through binoculars: A field guide to dragonflies of North America. New York, NY. Oxford University Press. 266 pp.
- Paulson, D.R. 2009. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West. Princeton University Press, Princeton. 535 pp.
Sater, S. 2022. The insects of Sevenmile Creek, a pictorial guide to their diversity and ecology. Undergraduate Thesis. Helena, MT: Carroll College. 242 p.
- Web Search Engines for Articles on "California Darner"
- Additional Sources of Information Related to "Insects"
