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Riffle Darner

 

genus: Oplonaeschna

Riffle Darner

The only North American species in this genus with is a fairly large darner.  The Riffle Darner resembles the genus Aeshna. It has brown coloration with two lateral thoracic stripes that are blue above and yellow below. The mature male abdomen is stout at the base with small blue spots on the anterior  segments and yellow spots on the posterior segments.  The wings are broad in shape and clear.

The females can come in three forms, the Blue Form female has blue abdominal spots.  Males and Blue Form females have deep-blue eyes.  Green Form and Yellow Form females have brownish-yellow eyes.  Females also present with a shorter and shouter abdomen than their male counterparts.

The Riffle Darner can be seen patrolling from dawn to dusk around rocky streams and trickles in woodland areas.

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