This species is approximately 2 3/4 inches or 70 mm in length. These are known as “Mosaic Darners” for the mosaic pattern of bright blue spots on the male’s abdomen. Males are dark brown to black with green markings on the thorax and blue spots on the abdomen. The females can be either a blue form that has blue spots on the abdomen or a green form with green spots. Both sexes have the first side-stripe of the thorax slightly constricted in the middle (see Photo C). The “lance-tip” refers to the lance-shaped appendages at the end of the abdomen of the female.
This darner is probably uncommon in Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods in summer and early fall. Look for them around the streams or hunting late in the day until dusk over open fields and marshes sometimes forming feeding swarms.
Like all darners, this dragonfly perches by hanging vertically. Unlike other Mosaic Darners, it commonly rests on low plants, but it will also hang higher up in trees and bushes. Females usually lay eggs up to 3 feet above the water in cattails or other vegetation.
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