Habitat

Anax junius is found around any freshwater habitat.  They inhabit a variety of lakes, streams, swamps, marshes, and ponds (Paulson 2009).   Although Anax junius is most common in these moist areas, it also inhabits a variety of non-wetland areas, mostly due to their swarming migratory seasons (Paulson 2009).  Because of their breeding strategy, these mature adult dragonflies move north in spring where they breed, and their larvae will emerge later that summer, before migrating back south in the fall (Paulson 2009). 

 

Common Green Darners are mainly found in these types of habitats due to their diet and reproduction.  Male members of the Order Odonata have been found to be territorial and it is not uncommon for them to chase away other males of the same species (Gordh and Headrick 2001).  Anax junius are swift fliers and may patrol and roam large areas in search of prey (Gordh and Headrick 2001).  When looking for Anax junius, it is useful to look in habitats that lack fish, as this is what they prefer (Paulson 2009). The geographic region where Anax junius can be found in the United States is from Maine all the way west to California.  They occur in more aquatic type habitats as far north as the U.P. in summer, to Florida throughout the winter (Gordh and Headrick 2001). 

For more information about the habitat and geography of Anax junius, please visit the IUCN Red List for Threaten Species.

To see a map of the abundance of Anax junius throughout the United States, please visit DiscoverLife.org.

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