Shadow Darner Aeshna umbrosa Walker, 1908    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Odonata   >   Family Aeshnidae   >   Genus Aeshna   

Status:

The aptly-named Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa) is more likely to patrol in shade than its congeners, and will even breed in slow forested streams, but also utilizes ponds and marshes. This dark-colored dragonfly is often found feeding up to or even after sunset (Dunkle, 2000). This is the most widespread Aeshna in Maryland, and it occurs statewide (Richard Orr's The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Maryland and the District of Columbia).

There are 188 records in the project database.

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Close-up of the head and thorax of a Shadow Darner found in Garrett Co., Maryland (9/6/2009). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Shadow Darner found by students at Jemicy School in Baltimore Co., Maryland (11/5/2013). Photo by Emily Stanley. (MBP list)

A Shadow Darner in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/18/2016). Verified by Ben Coulter/BugGuide. Photo by Steve Scholnick. (MBP list)

A Shadow Darner in Garrett Co., Maryland (9/22/2013). Photo by Matt Tillett. (MBP list)

A female Shadow Darner in Howard Co., Maryland (9/1/2014). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Shadow Darner in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/19/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Shadow Darner in Baltimore Co., Maryland (10/5/2015). Photo by Kye Jenkins. (MBP list)

A Shadow Darner in Garrett Co., Maryland (9/26/2014). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Shadow Darner at Cromwell Valley Park, Maryland (9/23/2009). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Shadow Darner in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Shadow Darner in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A female Shadow Darner ovipositing in Garrett Co., Maryland (9/25/2011). Photo by Matt Tillett. (MBP list)

A Shadow Darner in Howard Co., Maryland (10/24/2014). Photo by Jim Wilkinson. (MBP list)

Shadow Darner in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

An ovipositing female Shadow Darner in Howard Co., Maryland (10/6/2013). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Shadow Darner in Kent Co., Maryland (9/22/2014). First Kent Co. record. Photo by Mike Hudson. (MBP list)

Shadow Darner in Allegany Co., Maryland (9/9/2019). (c) Bill Blauvelt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Bill Blauvelt via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Shadow Darner in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Shadow Darner in Calvert Co., Maryland (8/23/2021). (c) jasoneavery, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jason Avery. (MBP list)

Shadow Darner in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) apistopanchax, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A male Shadow Darner found dead in Baltimore City, Maryland (11/10/2006). Determined by Ben Coulter/BugGuide. Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

Shadow Darner in Baltimore City, Maryland (10/20/2020). (c) Nathaniel Schwartz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND). Photo by Nathaniel Schwartz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Shadow Darner in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) apistopanchax, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Cast skin of a Shadow Darner in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/9/2013). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Shadow Darner in Allegany Co., Maryland (8/23/2020). (c) Rick Cheicante, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Rick Cheicante. (MBP list)

Shadow Darner in Cecil Co., Maryland (10/16/2022). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons via iNaturalist. (MBP list)


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