View source for Aeshnidae

{{Short description|Family of dragonflies}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| taxon = Aeshnidae
| fossil_range = {{fossil range|140|0|[[Berriasian]] to present}}
| image = Lesser Tasmanian Darner Austroaeschna hardyi female.jpg
| image_caption = [[Tasmanian darner]] (''Austroaeschna tasmanica'')
| authority = [[William Elford Leach|Leach]], 1815<ref name="Leach 1815 encyclopaedia">{{cite book|last1=Leach|first1=W.E.|editor1-last=Brewster|editor1-first=D.|title=The Edinburgh Encyclopedia|date=1815|publisher=William Blackburn|location=Edinburgh|pages=57–172 [136]|edition=reprint 1830|url=http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/17493626|chapter=Entomology|isbn=|volume=9|doi=10.5962/bhl.title.30911 }}</ref>
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision = See text.
| synonyms = * Allopetaliidae <small>[[Theodore D. A. Cockerell|Cockerell]], 1913</small>
* Gomphaeschnidae <small>Tillyard & Fraser, 1940</small>
* [[Telephlebiidae]] <small>Cockerell, 1913</small>
}}
[[File:Mangrove darner (Coryphaeschna viriditas).JPG|thumb|[[Mangrove darner]] (''Coryphaeschna viriditas''), [[Grand Cayman]]]]
'''Aeshnidae''', also called '''aeshnids''', '''hawkers''', or '''darners''', is a family of [[dragonflies]], found nearly worldwide, with more than 50 genera and over 450 species.<ref name="Dijkstra 2013">{{Cite journal |last1=Dijkstra |first1=Klaas-Douwe B. |last2=Bechly |first2=Günter |last3=Bybee |first3=Seth M. |last4=Dow |first4=Rory A. |last5=Dumont |first5=Henri J. |last6=Fleck |first6=Günther |last7=Garrison |first7=Rosser W. |last8=Hämäläinen |first8=Matti |last9=Kalkman |first9=Vincent J. |last10=Karube |first10=Haruki |last11=May |first11=Michael L. |last12=Orr |first12=Albert G. |last13=Paulson |first13=Dennis R. |last14=Rehn |first14=Andrew C. |last15=Theischinger |first15=Günther |last16=Trueman |first16=John W.H. |last17=Van Tol |first17=Jan |last18=von Ellenrieder |first18=Natalia |last19=Ware |first19=Jessica |date=2013 |title=The classification and diversity of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata). In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (Ed.) Animal Biodiversity: An Outline of Higher-level Classification and Survey of Taxonomic Richness (Addenda 2013) |url=https://mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.3703.1.9 |journal=Zootaxa |language=en |volume=3703 |issue=1 |pages=36–45 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.3703.1.9 |doi-access=free |hdl=10072/61365 |hdl-access=free |issn=1175-5334 }}</ref><ref name="World Odonata List">{{World Odonata List}}</ref>

The family includes some of the largest dragonflies, and can be over three inches long.

==Description==
Common worldwide or nearly worldwide genera are ''[[Aeshna]]'' and ''[[Anax (dragonfly)|Anax]]''. ''Anax'' includes some of the largest dragonflies, including the North American ''[[Anax walsinghami|A. walsinghami]]'', Hawaiian ''[[Giant Hawaiian darner|A. strenuus]]'', European ''[[Emperor (dragonfly)|A. imperator]]'' and ''[[Anax immaculifrons|A. immaculifrons]]'', and African ''[[Anax tristis|A. tristis]]'', but these are all exceeded by another member of the family, the Asian ''[[Tetracanthagyna plagiata]]'', which, by both wingspan and weight, is the world's largest dragonfly.

There are 41 North American species in 11 genera in this family. Most European species belong to ''Aeshna''. Their American name "darner" stems from the female abdomens looking like a sewing needle, as they cut into plant stem when they lay their eggs through the [[ovipositor]].

These dragonfly mate in flight. The [[Egg (biology)|egg]]s are deposited in water or close by. The [[larva]]e ([[Nymph (biology)|nymphs]] or naiads) are generally slender compared to those of other families, with a long and flat extensible lower lip (labium). The larvae are aquatic [[predator]]s, feeding on other insects and even small fish.

The adults spend large amounts of time in the air and seem to fly tirelessly with their four large and powerful [[insect wing|wings]]. They can fly forwards, backwards, or hover like a helicopter. The wings are always extended horizontally.

Their [[abdomen]]s are long and thin. Most are colored blue and or green, with black and occasionally yellow. Their large, hemispherical, [[compound eye]]s touch in the midline and nearly cover their heads. They have extremely good vision, and are voracious insect predators, using their sharp, biting mouthparts.

All are difficult to catch because of their flying ability and keen sight.

==Taxonomy and genera==
The name Aeshnidae was first proposed as a family by [[William Elford Leach|Elford Leach]] in 1815.<ref name="Leach 1815 encyclopaedia" />

The spelling of Aeshnidae may have resulted from a printer's error in spelling the Greek ''Aechma'', "a spear".<ref>{{cite web|title=Dragonflies of the Family Aeshnidae in British Columbia |url=http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Content_Files/Files/aeshnidae_of_BC.pdf |access-date=25 August 2009 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The spelling Aeschnidae has been intermittently used over a period of time, but is now abandoned for the original name Aeshnidae. However, derived genus names (such as ''[[Rhionaeschna]]'') retain the 'sch' spelling, as this is how they were first cited.

The oldest known members of the family are †''[[Gomphaeschna inferna]]'' <small>Pritykina, 1977</small> and †''[[Baissaeschna]]'' <small>Pritykina, 1977</small>, both from the earliest [[Cretaceous]] ([[Berriasian]]) of [[Buryatia]], Russia.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=University~mkk24@njit.edu |first=Manpreet Kaur Kohli~Rutgers |last2=University~jware@amnh.org |first2=Jessica L. Ware~Rutgers |last3=Bechly~Eberhard-Karls-University~guenter.bechly@smns-bw.de |first3=Günter |date=2016-03-18 |title=How to date a dragonfly: Fossil calibrations for odonates |url=https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/fc-8 |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=Palaeontologia Electronica |language=en}}</ref> ''[[Gomphaeschna]]'' displays a very ancient divergence from the rest of the genus, and many fossil dragonfly genera appear to be closely related to it. For this reason, some studies have placed it and its fossil relatives in their own family, Gomphaeschnidae.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jouault |first=Corentin |last2=Coutret |first2=Baptiste |last3=Konhauser |first3=Kurt O. |last4=Nel |first4=André |date=2023-01-01 |title=New odonatans (Odonata: Gomphaeschnidae; Synlestidae) from the Paleocene Paskapoo Formation: systematic and biogeographical implications |journal=Journal of Systematic Palaeontology |volume=21 |issue=1 |article-number=2261457 |doi=10.1080/14772019.2023.2261457 |issn=1477-2019}}</ref> However, the World Odonata Checklist presently retains it in Aeshnidae.<ref name="World Odonata List2">{{World Odonata List}}</ref>

{{Div col}}
*''[[Acanthaeschna]]'' {{small|Selys, 1883}}
*''[[Adversaeschna]]'' {{small|Watson, 1992}}
*''[[Aeschnophlebia]]'' {{small|Selys, 1883}}
*''[[Aeshna]]'' {{small|Fabricius, 1775}}
*''[[Afroaeschna]]'' {{small|Peters & Theischinger, 2011}} 
*''[[Agyrtacantha]]'' {{small|Lieftinck, 1937}}
*''[[Allopetalia]]'' {{small|Selys, 1873}}
*''[[Amphiaeschna]]'' {{small|Selys, 1871}}
*''[[Anaciaeschna]]'' {{small|Selys, 1878}}
*''[[Anax (dragonfly)|Anax]]'' {{small|Leach, 1815}}
*''[[Andaeschna]]'' {{small|De Marmels, 1994}}
*''[[Antipodophlebia]]'' {{small|Fraser, 1960}}
*''[[Austroaeschna]]'' {{small|Selys, 1883}}
*''[[Austrogynacantha]]'' {{small|Tillyard, 1908}}
*''[[Austrophlebia]]'' {{small|Tillyard, 1916}}
*''[[Basiaeschna]]'' {{small|Selys, 1883}}
*''[[Boyeria]]'' {{small|McLachlan, 1895}}
*''[[Brachytron]]'' {{small|Evans, 1845}}
*''[[Caliaeschna]]'' {{small|Selys, 1883}}
*''[[Castoraeschna]]'' {{small|Calvert, 1952}}
*''[[Cephalaeschna]]'' {{small|Selys, 1883}}
*''[[Coryphaeschna]]'' {{small|Williamson, 1903}}
*''[[Dendroaeschna]]'' {{small|Tillyard, 1916}}
*''[[Dromaeschna]]'' {{small|Förster, 1908}}
*''[[Epiaeschna]]'' {{small|Hagen in Selys, 1883}}
*''[[Gomphaeschna]]'' {{small|Selys, 1871}}
*''[[Gynacantha]]'' {{small|Rambur, 1842}}
*''[[Gynacanthaeschna]]'' {{small|Fraser, 1921}}
*''[[Heliaeschna]]'' {{small|Selys, 1882}}
*''[[Indaeschna]]'' {{small|Fraser, 1926}}
*''[[Limnetron]]'' {{small|Förster, 1907}}
*''[[Linaeschna]]'' {{small|Martin, 1908}}
*''[[Nasiaeschna]]'' {{small|Selys in Förster, 1907}}
*''[[Neuraeschna]]'' {{small|Hagen, 1867}}
*''[[Notoaeschna]]'' {{small|Tillyard, 1916}}
*''[[Oligoaeschna]]'' {{small|Selys, 1889}}
*''[[Oplonaeschna]]'' {{small|Selys, 1883}}
*''[[Oreaeschna]]'' {{small|Lieftinck, 1937}}
*''[[Periaeschna]]'' {{small|Martin, 1908}}
*''[[Petaliaeschna]]'' {{small|Fraser, 1927}}
*''[[Pinheyschna]]'' {{small|Peters & Theischinger, 2011}}
*''[[Planaeschna]]'' {{small|McLachlan, 1896}}
*''[[Plattycantha]]'' {{small|Förster, 1908}}
*''[[Polycanthagyna]]'' {{small|Fraser, 1933}}
*''[[Racenaeschna]]'' {{small|Calvert, 1958}}
*''[[Remartinia]]'' {{small|Navás, 1911}}
*''[[Rhionaeschna]]'' {{small|Förster, 1909}}
*''[[Sarasaeschna]]'' {{small|Karube & Yeh, 2001}}
*''[[Spinaeschna]]'' {{small|Theischinger, 1982}}
*''[[Staurophlebia]]'' {{small|Brauer, 1865}}
*''[[Telephlebia]]'' {{small|Selys, 1883}}
*''[[Tetracanthagyna]]'' {{small|Selys, 1883}}
*''[[Triacanthagyna]]'' {{small|Selys, 1883}}
*''[[Zosteraeschna]]'' {{small|Peter & Theischinger, 2011}}
{{div col end}}

===Fossil genera===
The following fossil aeshnid genera are known. They have been variously classified in the subfamilies Aeschninae, Allopetalinae or Gomphaeschninae, with the latter two sometimes treated as separate families.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PBDB Taxon |url=https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=107095 |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=paleobiodb.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PBDB Taxon |url=https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=176762 |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=paleobiodb.org}}</ref>

*†''[[Alloaeschna]]'' <small>Wighton</small> <small>& Wilson, 1986</small> (mid-late [[Paleocene]] of Alberta, Canada)
*†''[[Anglogomphaeschna]]'' <small>Nel & Fleck</small><small>, 2014</small> ([[Late Eocene]] of England)
*†''[[Antiquiala]]'' {{small|Archibald & Cannings, 2019}} ([[Ypresian|Early Eocene]] of Washington, US)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Archibald |first=S. Bruce |last2=Cannings |first2=Robert A. |date=2019 |title=Fossil dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) from the early Eocene Okanagan Highlands, western North America |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/canadian-entomologist/article/fossil-dragonflies-odonata-anisoptera-from-the-early-eocene-okanagan-highlands-western-north-america/74A59170711807272E35236BA309AC9A |journal=The Canadian Entomologist |language=en |volume=151 |issue=6 |pages=783–816 |doi=10.4039/tce.2019.61 |issn=0008-347X|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
*†''[[Anomalaeschna]]'' <small>Bechly ''et al.'' 2001</small> ([[Aptian]] of [[Ceará]], Brazil)
*†''[[Baissaeshna]]'' <small>Pritykina</small><small>, 1977</small> ([[Berriasian]]<ref name=":0" /> or Aptian of Buryatia, Russia)
*†''[[Cretagomphaeschnaoides]]'' <small>Zheng, Jarzembowski, Chang & Wang, 2016</small> ([[Cenomanian]] of [[Myanmar]])<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Zheng |first=Daran |last2=Jarzembowski |first2=Edmund A. |last3=Chang |first3=Su-Chin |last4=Wang |first4=Bo |date=2016-11-01 |title=A new true dragonfly (Odonata, Anisoptera, Gomphaeschnaoidini) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016787816300827 |journal=Proceedings of the Geologists' Association |volume=127 |issue=5 |pages=629–632 |doi=10.1016/j.pgeola.2016.07.006 |issn=0016-7878|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
*†''[[Cretalloaeschna]]'' <small>Jarzembowski</small> <small>& Nel, 1996</small> (Berriasian of England) 
*†''[[Elektrogomphaeschna]]'' <small>Pinkert, Bechly & Nel, 2017</small> ([[Priabonian|Late Eocene]] of [[Kaliningrad Oblast|Kaliningrad]], Russia)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pinkert |first=Stefan |last2=Bechly |first2=Günter |last3=Nel |first3=André |date=2017 |title=First record of hawker dragonflies from Eocene Baltic amber (Odonata: Anisoptera: Gomphaeschnidae) |url=https://hal.sorbonne-universite.fr/hal-01547445 |journal=Zootaxa |language=en |volume=4272 |issue=2 |page=263 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4272.2.7}}</ref>
*†''[[Eoshna]]'' {{small|Archibald & Cannings, 2019}} (Early Eocene of British Columbia, Canada)
*†''[[Falsisophoaeschna]]'' <small>Zhang, Ren & Pang</small><small>, 2008</small> ([[Barremian]] of [[Inner Mongolia]], China)<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Zhang |first=Binglan |last2=Ren |first2=Dong |last3=Pang |first3=Hong |date=2008-01-10 |title=New dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata: Gomphaeschnidae) from the Yixian Formation in Inner Mongolia, China |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1002007107000068 |journal=Progress in Natural Science |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=59–64 |doi=10.1016/j.pnsc.2007.07.005 |issn=1002-0071|doi-access=free }}</ref>
*†''[[Gomphaeschnaoides]]'' <small>Carle & Wighton</small><small>, 1990</small> (Aptian of Ceará, Brazil)
*†''[[Huncoaeshna]]'' <small>Petrulevičius</small><small>, Nel & Voisin, 2010</small> (Early Eocene of Argentina)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Petrulevičius |first=Julián F. |last2=Nel |first2=Andre |last3=Voisin |first3=Jean-François |date=2010-01-01 |title=A new genus and species of darner dragonfl y (Aeshnidae: Odonata) from the lower Eocene of Laguna del Hunco, Patagonia, Argentina |journal=Annales de la Société entomologique de France |series=New Series |volume=46 |issue=1-2 |pages=271–275 |doi=10.1080/00379271.2010.10697668 |issn=0037-9271}}</ref>
*†''[[Idemlinea]]'' {{small|Archibald & Cannings, 2019}} (Early Eocene of Washington, US)
*†''[[Jingguaeshna]]'' <small>Zheng & Zhang</small><small>, 2021</small> ([[Middle Miocene]] of Yunnan, China)
*†''[[Kachinaeshna]]'' <small>Zheng ''et al''.</small><small>, 2019</small> (Cenomanian of Myanmar)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Zheng |first=Daran |last2=Nel |first2=André |last3=Jarzembowski |first3=Edmund A. |last4=Wang |first4=Jun |last5=Zhang |first5=Haichun |last6=Wang |first6=Bo |date=2019-08-01 |title=New gomphaeschnid dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera: Aeshnoptera) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667119300370 |journal=Cretaceous Research |volume=100 |pages=138–144 |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2019.03.027 |issn=0195-6671|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
*†''[[Kishenehna]]'' <small>Archibald & Cannings</small><small>, 2022</small> ([[Lutetian]] of Montana, US)
*†''[[Kvacekia]]'' <small>Prokop & Nel</small><small>, 2002</small> ([[Rupelian|Early Oligocene]] of the Czech Republic)
*†''[[Merlax]]'' <small>Prokop & Nel</small><small>, 2000</small> ([[Early Miocene]] of the Czech Republic)
*†''[[Necracantha]]'' <small>Martynov</small><small>, 1929</small> ([[Late Oligocene]] of Kazakhstan)
*†''[[Oligaeschna]]'' <small>Piton</small> <small>& [[Nicolas Théobald|Théobald]], 1939</small> ([[Eocene|Middle Eocene]] to Middle Miocene of Europe, Colorado (US) & China)
*†''[[Palaeaeschna]]'' <small>[[Meunier]]</small><small>, 1914</small> (Barremian of Spain)
*†''[[Parabaissaeshna]]'' <small>Bechly</small> <small>& Rasmussen, 2019</small> (earliest Eocene of Denmark)
*†''[[Paramorbaeschna]]'' <small>Bechly ''et al.'' 2001</small> (Aptian of Ceará, Brazil)
*†''[[Plesigomphaeschnaoides]]'' <small>Bechly ''et al.'' 2001</small> ([[Hauterivian]] to Early Eocene of England, Mongolia, and Denmark)
*†''[[Progomphaeschnaoides]]'' <small>Bechly ''et al.'' 2001</small> (Aptian of Ceará, Brazil)
*†''[[Sinojagoria]]'' <small>Bechly ''et al.'' 2001</small> (Barremian of [[Liaoning]], China)
*†''[[Sophoaeschna]]'' <small>Zhang, Ren & Pang</small><small>, 2008</small> (Barremian of Inner Mongolia, China)<ref name=":1" />
*†''[[Ypshna]]'' {{small|Archibald & Cannings, 2019}} (Early Eocene of British Columbia, Canada)

==See also==
* [[List of dragonflies (Aeshnidae)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*Silsby, Jill (2001). ''Dragonflies of the World''. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C.

==External links==
{{Wikispecies}}
{{Commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040810213436/http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/worldanisops.html List of Anisoptera of the World]
*[https://www.etawau.com/DragonFly/Family_Aeshnidae.htm Aeshnidae Dragonflies of Borneo Island]

{{Odonata|3}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q516862}}H
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Aeshnidae| ]]
[[Category:Aeshnoidea]]
[[Category:Odonata of Asia]]
[[Category:Odonata of Africa]]
[[Category:Odonata of Australia]]
[[Category:Odonata of Europe]]
[[Category:Odonata of Oceania]]
[[Category:Odonata of North America]]
[[Category:Odonata of South America]]
[[Category:Taxa named by William Elford Leach]]
[[Category:Insects described in 1815]]
[[Category:Odonata families]]
[[Category:Dragonflies]]
[[Category:Extant Berriasian first appearances]]