Kauaʻi record · KCA-IA-00596
Common Green Darner
Anax junius
Open this record in the interactive AtlasAbout 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.