Aeshna (Mosaic Darners)

Mosaic Darners are common in BC; they fly everywhere dragonflies are found. All but one of the 11 BC species are recorded in the North. The only darner not found north of 52º is A. constricta, a red-listed species of the southern interior valleys. Aeshna species are large and can usually be distinguished by their variations on a basic colour pattern. Generally, the body is brown, and each side of the thorax has a pair of blue, green or yellow stripes - their shape is important in identification (see fig. 7). Look also for the colour of the face and the line across its middle. Viewed from above, the forehead bears a distinctive T-shaped mark, called the "T-spot" (fig. 8). The abdominal spots on males are usually blue, and on females green, yellow or blue. Male upper appendages come in three types (fig. 9). BC Aeshna species are further treated in Cannings (1996).

Figure 7. The shapes of the side stripes on the thorax of Aeshna and Rhionaeschna
(the front stripe is on the left):
a, tuberculifera; b, interrupta - spotted form; c, interrupta - southeastern interior;
d, interrupta - interior form; e, eremita; f, canadensis; g, juncea;
h, subarctica; 1, septentrionalis; j, sitchensis; k, umbrosa; l
, palmata; m, constricta; n, californica; o, multicolor.

Figure 8. Aeshna T-spot, top view: a, sitchensis, b, septentrionalis. CE = compound eye; F = face; T = T-spot.

Figure 9. The three types of appendages of male Aeshna and Rhionaeschna,
side view: a, simple (most species; canadensis is shown)
broadens slightly toward a rounded or pointed tip;
b, forked at the tip (multicolor); c, flattened (constricta, palmata and umbrosa)
broadens and flattens toward the tip.
A10 = abdominal segment 10; UA, LA = upper, lower appendages.

Aeshna canadensis (Canada Darner)

Aeshna eremita (Lake Darner)

Aeshna interrupta (Variable Darner)

Aeshna juncea (Sedge Darner)

Aeshna palmata (Paddle-tailed Darner)

Aeshna septentrionalis (Azure Darner)

Aeshna sitchensis (Zigzag Darner)

Aeshna subarctica (Subarctic Darner)

Aeshna tuberculifera (Black-tipped Darner)

Aeshna umbrosa (Shadow Darner)