New Jersey Endangered and Threatened Species Field Guide
Zoom+ An adult male subarctic darner. © Allen BarlowSubarctic darner
Aeshna subarctica
Species Group: Invertebrate
Conservation Status
State: Special Concern
IDENTIFICATION
Approximately 2.8”, the subarctic darner is a large-sized dragonfly. Their bright, yellow face has a black cross line and short eye seam. Their brown thorax displays yellow and blue stripes that become more spotted across their black abdomen. Male and female subarctic darners are similar in appearance with females having a more robust abdomen.
Zoom+ Range of the subarctic darner in New Jersey.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
This species reaches the southern-most end of its range in northern New Jersey. Currently, the subarctic darner has only been found in Sussex County inhabiting swamps, bogs, and fens with abundant mosses.
DIET
Nymphs eat a wide variety of aquatic insects and even very small fish and tadpoles. The adult’s diet mainly consists of soft-bodied flying insects like mosquitoes.
LIFE CYCLE
The darner is active early June to early October. Females oviposit their eggs on sphagnum, mosses, and sedges along the waterline.
CURRENT STATUS, THREATS, AND CONSERVATION
Due to its limited range and scarcity of habitat the subarctic darner is considered a species of Special Concern in New Jersey.
Text derived from the book, Field Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies of New Jersey. 2009. By Allen E. Barlow, David M. Golden and Jim Bangma. Edited and updated by Karena Di Leo in 2011.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Family: Aeshnidae
Genus: Aeshna
Species: A. subarctica
Find Related Info: Invertebrates, Special concern
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