Kauaʻi Conservation Atlas

Kauaʻi record · KCA-IA-00596

Common Green Darner

Anax junius

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Common Green Darner (Anax junius) · AI-generated Atlas reconstruction
Common Green Darner (Anax junius) · AI-generated Atlas reconstruction · Kauaʻi Conservation Atlas · AI-generated Atlas reconstruction · Atlas ecological plate v1.5.3 · Image source

About Common Green Darner

Common Green Darner (Anax junius) is a member of Aeshnidae in the order Odonata. Its recorded origin status on Kauaʻi is indigenous.

Common Green Darner (Anax junius) is documented from Kauaʻi. Darners are large dragonflies with aquatic predatory naiads and powerful aerial predatory adults. On Kauaʻi, observations are most useful when they record freshwater breeding habitat, exuviae/naiads, adult sex, territorial behavior, and flight season. Where island-specific host, prey, breeding-site, abundance, or seasonal information is not yet firmly documented, those details should remain tied to direct specimens and field observations rather than inferred from populations elsewhere.

Common Green Darner (Anax junius) is an indigenous/migratory dragonfly documented on Kauaʻi, especially in lowland freshwater habitat. Adult and aquatic naiad are materially different identification forms.

Kauaʻi occurrence evidence: Keāhua Stream, Kauaʻi biological survey records Anax junius; broader phylogenetic literature confirms distinct Hawaiian populations.

The cited occurrence evidence does not by itself establish current abundance or population trend on Kauaʻi.

Life cycle

Egg; aquatic naiad; emergence/final molt; winged adult; no pupa.

Habitat

Freshwater streams, pools, ponds, wetlands, and nearby aerial foraging habitat.

Food and ecological role

Naiads prey on aquatic animals; adults capture flying insects.

Reproduction

Females lay eggs in or near freshwater; naiads develop underwater before emergence.

Movement

Adults are strong fliers and can forage well away from water.

Ecosystem role

High-level invertebrate predator in freshwater and aerial food webs.

Threats and impacts

Water-habitat quality and invasive aquatic predators can affect recruitment.

Monitoring

Record freshwater breeding habitat, exuviae/naiads, adult sex, territorial behavior, and flight season.

Names and classification

Scientific name
Anax junius
Common names
Common Green Darner
Family
Aeshnidae
Order
Odonata
Record type
species

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence
Present
Origin
Indigenous
Conservation status
Not assessed

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal description
Common Green Darner (Anax junius) is a member of Aeshnidae in the order Odonata. Its recorded origin status on Kauaʻi is indigenous.

Sources and further reading

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