Identification

Field Marks

• Average adult size is approximately 3.0 inches
• Eyes pale green below tan green above
• Green face
• Blue and black bulls-eye on top of frons
• Brown legs
• Green thorax
• Faint unremarkable thoracic stripes
• Blue abdomen that gets dark on segments 9 and 10
• Small spikes on the end of the claspers
• Immature male abdomen range in color from dull violet to maroon

Field Marks

• Females are colored similar to males except that their abdomen goes from a dull violet to maroon when immature, this can be the same with males, to a predominantly light grey color when mature
• Females have a functional ovipositor with medium sized cerci, about equal in length to segments 9 and 10
• Some females are colored the same as males

Behavior

One of the few species in North America that migrate south. Many emerge in late summer and begin to migrate south in large groups. When they arrive at their southern destination they mate and lay eggs. Their offspring grow as nymphs and when they emerge they fly north, arriving and laying eggs before most other species emerge. The offspring of these darners start the process over again. Common Green Darners that do not emerge in time to migrate will mate and lay eggs in their northern territory. Their offspring will over winter as nymphs similar to other species of dragonflies that do not migrate.

Habitat

Still waters such as lakes, ponds, marshes and slow moving streams

Reproduction

Pairs lay eggs in water logged wood or aquatic vegetation while in tandem