Comet Darner
Anax longipes Hagen, 1861
Comet Darner: https://marylandbiodiversity.com/species/675
Synonyms

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343 Records

Status

The distinctive Comet Darner (Anax longipes) is nearly unmistakable, with a pale green thorax and, in mature males, a brilliant reddish-orange abdomen. This showy dragonfly is a strong flyer, and often takes large prey, capturing them in flight with its exceptionally long legs. Comet Darners prefer to breed in fishless ponds, including gravel pits ponds, farm ponds, and beaver meadows. This dragonfly is widespread, but generally uncommon across most of Maryland (Richard Orr's The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Maryland and the District of Columbia).

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Source: Wikipedia

Comet darner
Male
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Aeshnidae
Genus: Anax
Species:
A. longipes
Binomial name
Anax longipes
Hagen, 1861

The comet darner (Anax longipes) is a common species of dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae.

Description

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The comet darner is a large dragonfly and has a green thorax and bright red abdomen. Females have a brownish abdomen patterned with blue spots.[2]

Distribution and habitat

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Comet darners are found in shallow lakes and ponds which tend to have extensive beds and grasses and lack fish. They are found along the eastern United States from Missouri, Michigan, New England and some even further north.[3]

Conservation status

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Its conservation status is of "least concern" according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Paulson, D.R. (2017). "Anax longipes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T164953A71148798. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T164953A71148798.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Comet Darner: Anax longipes Hagen, 1861
  3. ^ Paulson, Dennis (2009). Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West. p.233.