Odonata: Aeshnidae: Anax junius ( Drury, 1773) (Common Green Darner)

This is one of our largest dragonflies (the body is 3 1/4 in., or over 8 cm long). Its body is mostly green, and it has black legs, a yellow face, and a bluish abdomen. The wings are clear; however, all but the tips are often tinged with amber.

Photograph by C. Hogue

The nymphs are good swimmers, elongate and streamlined. The legs and body are more or less unicolorous, and the abdomen has small dark spots. They often hide in ambush, with their heads low, among submerged vegetation.

Although the adults emerge at night, they are diurnally active.

© 1993 Insects of the Los Angeles Basin