On 06 October 2014, I spotted what I would call a small swarm of Common Green Darner dragonflies (Anax junius) at a vernal pool in the forest at Huntley Meadows Park. There were at least 25-30 individuals, maybe more. They alternated between hawking flying insects, then perching/resting briefly in vegetation near the ground. The activity lasted all day, until dusk. I’m guessing the swarm stopped to refuel at the park while migrating southward.
The dragonfly shown in the preceding photo is a male, as indicated by its blue abdomen and terminal appendages.
Common Green Darner is one of at least five major species of dragonflies known to be migratory in North America. See interactive three-dimensional (3-D) virtual imagery of the five migratory dragonflies, including Common Green Darner, provided by the Migratory Dragonfly Partnership.
Related Resources: Digital Dragonflies, presenting high-resolution digital scans of living dragonflies.
- Genus Anax | Anax junius | Common Green Darner | male | top view
- Genus Anax | Anax junius | Common Green Darner | male | side view
Editor’s Note: Small swarms of Common Green Darner dragonflies were reported recently by spotters in other parts of Huntley Meadows Park.
Copyright © 2014 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: Anax junius, Common Green Darner dragonfly, Darner Family, Huntley Meadows Park, male, migratory, vernal pool, wildlife photography
walter sanford's photoblog 
February 1, 2015 at 12:13 am |
[…] 06 OCT 2014 | HMP | Common Green Darner dragonfly (male) […]
February 4, 2015 at 5:01 am |
[…] 06 OCT 2014 | HMP | Common Green Darner dragonfly (male) […]
October 30, 2016 at 4:06 am |
[…] 06 OCT 2014 | HMP | Common Green Darner (mature male) […]