Aeshna juncea

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: (>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)) Alaska; Labrador; Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland, North West Territories, Ontario, Quebec, Yukon; United States: Colorado, New Hampshire, Wyoming; also from boreo-alpine regions of Europe and Asia (Needham and Westfall, 1955).

Length: 7 cm

Darkening segments beyond 3 have usual spots larger than in other species (Needham and Westfall, 1955).

Comments: The life history of JUNCEA is relatively well-known in Europe. Adults [of the family Aeshnidae] oviposit in the stems of emergent or floating plants in June through August, such as rushes (JUNCUS), horsetails (EQUISETUM) and pond lilies (Nymphaea) and moss. Eggs hatch the following spring and duration of nymphal development is 3-4 years. The nymphs are long, slender- bodied, and nicely patterned with cryptic colors which render them nearly invisible to their prey. They clamber about underwater plant stems, and will eat almost anything they can catch, including smaller members of their own group, fish and tadpoles (Carpenter, 1991).

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Relatively high vagility.

Comments: Larva of the family Aeshnidae will eat almost anything they can catch, including smaller members of their own group, fish and tadpoles (Carpenter, 1991).

Aeshna juncea preys on:
Enchytraeidae
Lumbriculus variegatus
Oribatei
Argyroneta aquatica
Scaphaloberis mucronata
Cydorus latus
Acanthocyclops vernalis
Enallagma cyathigerum
Lestes sponsa
Aeshna juncea
Sympetrum scoticum
Notonecta glauca
Callicorixa praeusta
Corixa dentipes
Corixa punctata
Hesperocorixa linnei
Hesperocorixa sahlbergi
Arctocorisa germari
Sigaria semistraiata
Hydroporus erythrocephalus
Agabus sturmii
Agabus bipustulatus
Ilybius fulginosus
Limnephilus marmoratus
Holocentropus picicornis
Procladius sagittalis
Corynoneura scutellata
Chironomus dorsalis
Glyptotendipes pallens
Tanytarsus bruchonius
Chironomidae

Based on studies in:
England, Skipwith Pond (Lake or pond)

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Aeshna juncea is prey of:
Aeshna juncea
Holocentropus picicornis

Based on studies in:
England, Skipwith Pond (Lake or pond)

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 to >300

Comments: A boreo-alpine species rather restricted to higher elevations, and reported from few areas in the U.S. Hundreds of occurrences are estimated due to the widespread distribution in boreo-alpine regions of Europe, Asia and North America (Needham and Westfall, 1955; Evans, 1988; Evans, 1955).

10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Comments: Unknown. Global abundance assumed to be high based on size of range. Much of range is on public lands or in inaccessible habitat.

Comments: June 16 (B.C) to September 1 (Labrador) (Needham and Westfall, 1955).

Adults [of the family Aeshnidae] oviposit in the stems of emergent or floating plants, such as rushes (JUNCUS) and pond lilies (Nymphaea).

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

No available public DNA sequences.

Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 7
Specimens with Barcodes: 39
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N4 - Apparently Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Reasons: Large range, relatively high degree of habitat protection.

Other Considerations: A good population of pond dwelling dragonflies can be an indicator of a healthy environment and good water quality (Dunkle, 1989).

Global Short Term Trend: Relatively stable (=10% change)

Comments: Unknown for this species. Pond dragonflies have been less severely impacted by human activities than stream species (Dunkle, 1989). Stability assumed, based on association with pond habitats. Also, inaccessibility and relatively high degree of protection for upper elevation and boreo-alpine habitats may be protecting factors.

Degree of Threat: C : Not very threatened throughout its range, communities often provide natural resources that when exploited alter the composition and structure over the short-term, or communities are self-protecting because they are unsuitable for other uses

Comments: Unknown for this species. A few human activities benefit some dragonflies, such as pond building. On the other hand, people typically introduce fish into ponds, clear vegetation, and spray insectides to enhance recreational values. These and other activities can greatly reduce dragonfly populations, and eliminates some species (Dunkle, 1989; Carpenter, 1991).

Global Protection: Few to several (1-12) occurrences appropriately protected and managed

Comments: One occurrence at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. This and other occurrences on public lands may be protected indirectly depending upon management practices and accessibility.

Needs: Protect natural hydrologic regime in areas of occurrence.