Swamp Darner

Swamp Darner

Epiaeschna heros

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at New York City

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%

288 Verified sightings at New York City
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 New York City?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Swamp Darner sighting in New York City on a given day, based on 288 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 101st most-seen of the 1623 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Swamp Darner in New York City?

May to August

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Swamp Darner in New York City on a given day, against under 5% in September to April, 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 New York City the best place to see a Swamp Darner?

Yes

Of the 10 cities where we can rate Swamp Darner sightings, New York City has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Philadelphia (United States, under 5%) and Houston (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 New York City (288 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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