Montana Field Guide

The Green Darner is a common and widespread member of the family Aeshnidae. Darners are among the largest and fastest-flying North American dragonflies, 2 1/4-4 3/4" (57-120 mm) long. Green Darners are found state-wide from the mountians to the prairies with a subspecies in the east and in the western part of the state. Due to the Common Green Darner's highly migratory nature, they can also be seen in a wide variety of non-wetland habitats as well. Green Darners inhabit a variety of well-vegetated lakes, ponds, marshes, and vernal pools, some temporary or even brackish, as well as small streams. This species prefers habitats that lack fish (Nikula et al. 2002, Paulson 2009, Dunkle 2000). Of the darners in Montana, the only one with a fully green thorax and a blue striped abdomen. Associated Wetland Ecological Systems: Western Emergent Marsh, Northern Rocky Mountain Wooded Vernal Pool, Great Plains Open Freshwater Depressional Wetland, Perennial Praire Streams.

Common Green Darners are both migratory and breeders in Montana. Mature adults move north early in spring, long before other resident have emerged. These migratory individuals then breed in appropriate wetlands and the larvae develop, emerge late in summer, and migrate out of the state in the early fall (Paulson 2009).

Common Green Darners inhabit a variety of well-vegetated lakes, ponds, marshes, and vernal pools, some temporary or even brackish, as well as small streams. This species prefers habitats that lack fish. Due to the Common Green Darner's highly migratory nature, they can also be seen in a wide variety of non-wetland habitats as well (Dunkle 2000, Nikula et al. 2002, Paulson 2009).

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.

Male Common Green Darners patrol irregular territories along open water and shorelines often clashing with other males and searching for females. Copulation is completed away from breeding sites, probably to avoid harassment by other males. Oviposition usually in tandem (unique for darners) on floating or submerged stems and leaves as well as woody branches. Single males often try to dislodge males from tandem pairs (Dunkle 2000, Nikula et al. 2002, Paulson 2009).