Kauaʻi record · KCA-IA-00257
Giant Hawaiian Dragonfly
Anax strenuus
Open this record in the interactive Atlas
About Giant Hawaiian Dragonfly
Anax strenuus is the endemic Hawaiian giant darner, one of the archipelago’s largest native insects, with a wingspan reaching about 14 cm.
Natural history and identification
Anax strenuus is the endemic Hawaiian giant darner, one of the archipelago’s largest native insects, with a wingspan reaching about 14 cm. The state wildlife assessment distinguishes predatory aquatic immature stages from the powerful flying adult. Its large size helps orient identification, but photographs still need comparison with other Hawaiian darners. The statewide assessment provides natural-history context; it does not establish a recent Kauaʻi population count.
Kauaʻi occurrence and evidence
Atlas occurrence category: Present. Endemic Hawaiian dragonfly; Kauaʻi stream surveys document the species and NatureServe reports it across the Hawaiian Islands.
Evidence limits
The cited observations describe the evidence currently available for this account. They do not establish a complete life history or a measured current Kauaʻi population trend.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Anax strenuus
- Common names
- Giant Hawaiian Dragonfly
- Family
- Aeshnidae
- Order
- Odonata
- Record type
- species
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Present
- Origin
- Endemic
- Conservation status
- NatureServe G3 (needs current review)
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal description
- Anax strenuus is the endemic Hawaiian giant darner, one of the archipelago’s largest native insects, with a wingspan reaching about 14 cm.