Common Green Darner

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Common green darner dragonfly perched on a dried flowering stalk, viewed from above
Scientific Name
Anax junius
Family
Aeshnidae (darners) in the order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies)
Description

The common green darner is abundant and well-known for its bright green, blue, and purple colors. There is a distinctive bullseye-like marking on the head just in front of the big compound eyes. A large dragonfly up to 3 inches long, it is a migratory species that travels south in autumn.

Learn more about the common green darner and other dragonflies (suborder Anisoptera) in their group entry.

Other Common Names
Canada Darner

Old-time Ozarkers used to call green darners and other large dragonflies "katynippers" and "snake feeders." These large dragonflies can indeed deliver a pinching bite when handled, but they cannot harm people.

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About Land Invertebrates in Missouri
Invertebrates are animals without backbones, including earthworms, slugs, snails, and arthropods. Arthropods—invertebrates with “jointed legs” — are a group of invertebrates that includes crayfish, shrimp, millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, and insects. There may be as many as 10 million species of insects alive on earth today, and they probably constitute more than 90 percent all animal species.
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