Darners, of the family Aeschnidae, are our largest dragonflies. Besides their large size (some are more than 3 inches in length), darners can be distinguished by their large eyes that meet in a long seam on the top of their head. Their abdomens also tend to be long and narrow, perhaps reminiscent of a darning needle. They also tend perch vertically, with their heads facing up, either by hanging from branches or clinging flat against the trunk of a tree, rather than horizontally like most dragonflies. Although they emerge from small ponds and other wetlands, adult darners can often be found hunting over upland areas far removed from their natal wetlands.  

The Comet Darner (Anax longipes) is one of the 20 species of darner found in Massachusetts. Although Comet Darners have been found as far north as Nova Scotia, Massachusetts is generally considered the northernmost extent of this species, where they are largely restricted to coastal plain areas. Male Comet Darners have a bright green thorax without other obvious markings, a bright red abdomen, greenish eyes, and a green “forehead” that lacks the bull’s-eye pattern common to other species in this group, like the similar looking Common Green Darner (Anax junius). They also have legs that are reddish at the base and a green leading edge to their wings. Females are similar in appearance, but have a duller, rusty-red abdomen and bluish eyes. The photographs included with this post were taken on June 8th. As Comet Darners are recorded as only starting to emerge in mid-June, it’s likely that this is a newly emerged individual that hasn’t brightened into its full colors yet; younger individuals of both sexes have a duller abdomen.