Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ecuador |
William Haber, Electronic Field Guide Project, University of Massachusetts, BostonDavid Wagner, University of Connecticut, Storrs |
| Introduction | References | Family Descriptions |
Aeshnidae- Darners, Hawker dragonflies |
| Eight genera with close to 50 species occur in Ecuador. Aeshnids are large, fast-flying dragonflies with large eyes that meet broadly on top of the head and a long, slender abdomen with the first two segments swollen. Many have bold green or blue markings on the thorax. The females are usually similar to the males in pattern, although not as brightly colored. Darners feed on the wing, so they are usually observed while flying. The males patrol territories looking for females, often along the margins of ponds or streams. A few species, e.g. Staurophlebia reticulata, live on streams, but most breed in the still waters of lakes, ponds, and swamps. |
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| Anax concolor, male | Coryphaeschna diapyra,male | Gynacantha nervosa, male | Neuraeschna maya, male |
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| Remartinia luteipennis, male | Rhionaeschna joannisi, male | Staurophlebia reticulata, male | Triacanthagyna caribbea, male |
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| Gynacantha nervosa, female, dorsal view |
| Text and images copyright 2014 by William A. Haber, http://efg.cs.umb.edu/ Created: 24 January 2006. Updated: 24 March 2014. |