Dragonhunter

 The dragonhunter is the largest dragonfly that we have here in the upper Midwest. It has an average length of about 3.3 inches, well short of the giant darner, which at 5 inches is the longest dragonfly in the US. The dragonhunter is beefier though. It's abdomen is so large that the tip often curls down in a J shape when they fly. They are typically found around moderate to swift flowing streams and rivers where they can live up to seven years in their larval form, called a nymph. They are fierce predators eating other large dragonflies, as well as butterflies including the toxic monarch butterfly.

Dragonhunter

 

The dragonhunter is hte largest dragonfly in North America. Their average size is about 3.3 inches. They are so long that male dragonhunters often fly with the end of their abdomen curled underneath them making them look like the letter "J". Dragonhunters are the only member of the genus Hagenius and are a part of the clubtail family. They are a fierce predator and will often hunt prey that other dragons avoid, including other large dragonflies. They seem to not be affected by most bee and wasp poison or the toxic effects of milkweed eating butterflies such as monarchs.

Dragonhunter

The Largest dragonfly that we see here in Minnesota is the dragonhunter. This large clubtail dragon averages around 3.3 inches long. They are so big that they are often seen with the back of their abdomen curling down making them appear like a flying letter "J".
Dragonhunters are the only dragon in the genus Hagenius. To many dragon hunters around the world they are a must see. They are ferocious, attacking and eating other dragons that are almost as big as them, including other dragonhunters. They are also one of the few insects that are not affected by the toxin that monarch butterflies carry in their system from the milkweed that they eat as caterpillar. In the photo above this dragonhunter is dining on a river jewelwing damselfly.

King of the Dragons

The largest and most fearsome dragonfly that we have around here is the dragonhunter. The dragonhunter is a member of the Gomphidae (clubtail) family and has the genus Hagenius all to itself. Its closest cousins are found in Asia and are members of the Sieboldius genus.

At approximately 3.3 inches long it is the largest dragonfly in North America. Because of its large size it is able to take prey larger then other dragonflies. Other large dragonflies, including darners and other clubtails, often fall prey to dragonhunters which typically ambush from above. Even insects like milkweed butterflies, that are toxic to most insects, are not immune to becoming the dragonhunters next meal.

Like most dragonflies the dragonhunter spends the majority of its life as an aquatic nymph. The dragonhunter nymph is different from most other clubtail nymph. Its shape is wide and flat and it spends most of its time camouflaged in leaf litter, rather then burying itself in the sandy bottom like most clubtail nymphs. The dragonhunter will spend around seven years in the water before it is ready to morph into its adult dragon form.

The King of the Dragons

The largest dragonfly that we have here in Minnesota is the dragonhunter. A member of the Gomphidae, or clubtail, family the dragonhunter averages about 3.3 inches long. They are usually found allow the shores of forested rivers and streams, I photographed this one at Wild River State Park on the St Croix River.

The dragon hunter is so unique and special that it is the only dragonfly in the whole world that is in the genus Hagenius. Dragonhunters are fierce predators that often eat other dragons, even other dragonhunters. They will also eat large butterflies, including monarchs who's toxin they appear to be immune to.

They are easy to identify because of their size. In flight the tip of the abdomen often hangs down and curls giving them the appearance of the letter J. Since they often attack from above the curl of the abdomen actually helps them to hold on to some of their larger prey.

King of the Dragons

The top dragonfly predator in North America would have to be the dragonhunter. These dragons are found through out the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. I photographed this black dragon, as they are sometimes called, on the shores of the Snake River where it meets the St Croix River.

The only member of the genius Hagenius, they are the largest of the North American dragonflies, averaging 3.3 inches long. They are fairly easy to identify due to their large size and their habit of flying with their abdomen curled under in a sort of "J" shape.

The dragonhunter is legendary for their ferociousness. They have been known to eat large butterflies and dragonflies, this includes other large dragons such as darners, clubtails and even other dragonhunters. They are immune to some types of wasp poisons and to the toxins that build up in monarch butterflies due to their milkweed diet. Typically when hunting they ambush from above, dropping down on their prey like the river jewelwing damselfly that this dragonhunter is eating.