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Common Green Darner

Anax junius

HarmlessCommon

Quick answer

Harmless. It doesn't sting. Safety level: Harmless.

A large dragonfly with a bright green thorax and a long abdomen that is blue in males and green or purple-brown in females.
A dark "bullseye" mark sits on the face in front of the eyes.
Holds its four clear wings out flat to the sides when resting.
Size: 7–8 cm.

Found across North America, Central America and the Caribbean, near ponds, lakes, marshes and slow streams. Many migrate south in autumn.

Dragonflies are harmless. They do not sting and very rarely bite, only if held. They are useful predators that catch mosquitoes and flies in mid-air.

Take a photo and Insect Scanner tells you its name, whether it is dangerous and what to do. Your first scans are free.

Safe to watch near ponds.

One dragonfly can eat hundreds of mosquitoes a day.

Do dragonflies sting?

No. Dragonflies have no sting. A held dragonfly may nip, but it is not dangerous.

Do dragonflies eat mosquitoes?

Yes. Both adults and their water-living young eat large numbers of mosquitoes.

How do I attract dragonflies?

A clean pond with water plants and no fish that eat their young helps.