“Spotted Darners”
Genus Overview
Two species of Boyeria occur in eastern North America. Unlike most genera of Aeshnidae, larvae of Boyeria are found in smaller, slowly flowing streams in woods, where they hide under rocks and heavy accumulations of leaves and sticks. Larvae are mostly dark except for banded legs and a conspicuous pale spot on the top of abdominal segment 8. Before molting to the adult stage, larvae crawl out of the water, about a foot (30 cm) above the water line, where they grasp the solid substrate, split their larval exoskeletons on the dorsal midline, and slowly emerge as adults.
Characteristics
POLLUTION TOLERANCE
Southeast: up to 6.3
Upper Midwest: up to 2
Midwest: up to 3.5
0 = least tolerant, 10 = most tolerant
FEEDING HABITS
Engulfer / Predator
MOVEMENT
Climber
Clinger
Sprawler
Clinger
Sprawler
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
HABITAT
Lotic-depositional
Lotic-erosional
Lotic-erosional
iNaturalist
Diagnostic Characters
