Swamp Darner

Swamp Darner

Epiaeschna heros

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Houston

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%

61 Verified sightings at Houston
21 In all 2 parks From 2019 to 2026
July Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Swamp Darner

Epiaeschna heros, the swamp darner, is a species of darner in the dragonfly family Aeshnidae. It is found in eastern North America. It is the only extant member of the genus Epiaeschna, a genus that is well-represented in fossil specimens found in Eurasia, suggesting a wider distribution during the mid-Cenozoic.

The IUCN conservation status of Epiaeschna heros is "LC", least concern, with no immediate threat to the species' survival. The population is stable. The IUCN status was reviewed in 2017. The species has been witnessed feeding on Solenopsis invicta ants during nuptial flights. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
2 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 New York City 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
2 Philadelphia 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
3 Houston 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
4 Chicago 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
5 Washington 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
6 Baltimore 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
7 Dallas 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
8 Boston 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
9 Toronto 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
10 Austin 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Swamp Darner in Houston?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Swamp Darner sighting in Houston on a given day, based on 61 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 221st most-seen of the 1057 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Swamp Darner in Houston?

March and June–August

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Swamp Darner in Houston on a given day, against under 5% in April–May and September–February, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Swamp Darner?

Between 11 am and 2 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Swamp Darner sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Houston the best place to see a Swamp Darner?

3rd of 10

Of the 10 cities where we can rate Swamp Darner sightings, Houston ranks 3rd at under 5%. The best odds are in New York City (United States, about 10%) and Philadelphia (United States, under 5%).

Where does the Swamp Darner sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Swamp Darner is recorded against all the insects logged in Houston (61 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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