Black-tipped Darner

Spotted patrolling the Native Plant Garden pond, this large and vibrant dragonfly added a flash of late-summer color to the water’s edge. The black-tipped darner (Aeshna tuberculifera) is recognized by its striking blue and green markings and the dark tip of its abdomen. A strong and agile flier, it hunts smaller insects on the wing, making it a key predator in our pond ecosystem. Early autumn sightings like this mark the tail end of dragonfly season on the Mountain.

Photo by Bill Moses.