Identification

Field Marks

• Average adult size is approximately from 2.4 to 2.9 inches
• Blue face with a black 'mustache' line across the frons
• Unique frons are angled and protrude at the top with no 'T spot' common in other darners
• Blue eyes
• Brown thorax with thick green stripes
• The front thoracic stripe is jagged with a divided rearward flag at the top
• Abdomen is dark brown to black with the segments divided by blue rings
• Segments 2 through 7 contain a light blue top spot that is torch shaped and divided in two. Segments 8 and 9 having two simple blue stripes
• Thick flat paddle style claspers

Field Marks

• Colored similar to male except for a lighter face
• Female has a stouter abdomen than the male
• Very short cerci. Smaller than segment 10.
• Cerci so small they look similar to broken cerci in other species.
• Functional ovipositor

Behavior

Hunts by gleaning prey from vegetation instead of catching it in flight like other darners. Will catch prey, including smaller dragonflies and take them to a perch to feed. Because of this unique hunting style they are not usually found in feeding swarms like other species. May forage until dusk.

Habitat

Forested swamp, lakes, ponds and slow moving streams. Usually border by bushes and trees

Reproduction

Females lay eggs by themselves in rotting wood and submerged logs below and above the water. Can lay eggs almost a foot above the water line