Flight season: early July to early October.
Population: not uncommon, but encountered less frequently than Canada and Lance-tipped Draners.
Most local sightings have occurred at marshes, a few near the Moira River.
This darner tends to forage in the shady areas among the willows and alders.
Length: about 70 mm to 75 mm.
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Tweed, Ontario, about ½ km west of town, a marsh bordering the trans-Canada Trail:
typical local marsh with Cattails, sedges and other emergent vegetation, various small willows, alders, dogwoods and some Tamarack.
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Study of a male Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa) –
the thoracic stripes are narrow compared to other Aeshna species, yellow-green,
and the first stripe in particular resembles a walking cane
(September 03, 2014).
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The greenish-blue spots on the dorsal surface of the abdomen are small
(September 03, 2014).
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Aspects of the claspers –
the cerci are spatulate and spine-tipped, resembling those of the
Lance-tipped Darner in lateral view.
However, the dorsal aspect is quite different
(September 03, 2014).
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The face lacks a cross-stripe.
September 03, 2014
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Views of another male Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa) –
the thoracic stripes of this individual are bolder
(September 27, 2014).
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Tweed, Ontario, the Moira River, east of town near Collin's Point:
rock-bottomed river with fast flowing water, rapids and emergent rocks,
the shoreline vegetation consists of wooded areas and clearings supporting tall grasses and wildflowers.
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Views of a green female Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa) –
the appendages have rounded tips but are quite fragile,
and as often as not they break off
(September 24, 2014).
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East of Tweed, Ontario, near the intersection of Alexander Street and the trans-Canada Trail:
disturbed field supporting tall grasses and wildflowers, bordered by shrubs and trees with a sand and rock-bottomed creek to the east.
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Female Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa)
October 01, 2015
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