Darners
Family Aeshnidae
Genus Nasiaeschna
Cyrano Darner (Nasiaeschna pentacantha)



Flight season: June and July.

Population: uncommon, apt to be found at slow streams and lakes.

Length: about 65 mm to 70 mm.


Tweed, Moira River shoreline near 74 French Settlement Road: shallow water, rocky substrate, densely wooded shoreline.
Male Cyrano Darner (Nasiaeschna pentacantha) – the tapering abdomen with its "inkblot" blue patterning, blue eyes, large protruding frons and habit of gliding with the wings held in a "V" are unique (June 14, 2017).
A closeup of the frons
(June 14, 2017)


East of Tweed, a marsh near a bridge on Sulphide Road: marsh on the north shore of Stoco Lake, heavily vegetated with aquatic and emergent plants, Cattails, willows and dogwoods, bordered by woodland.
June 24, 2017 – a male Cyrano Darner (Nasiaeschna pentacantha) was observed on territorial patrol over the marsh, harassing other odonates of all species (and no doubt trying to capture and consume them as well). Attempts to photograph the insect in flight were unsuccessful.


East of Tweed, Ontario, near a bridge on Sulphide Road: north shore of Stoco Lake, very slow stream supporting little floating and emergent vegetation, stretches of wooded shoreline.
One male Cyrano Darner (Nasiaeschna pentacantha) was observed patrolling back and forth over the stream, this one, found on the bridge, was not so fortunate (June 03, 2016).