Large, swift-flying dragonflies, usually marked with blue, green or yellow. Adults hunt tirelessly for insects over ponds, lakes and streams, and wander widely in search of prey. Most species rest in a vertical position, but a few sit flat on the ground. Females have a prominent ovipositor and lay eggs in water plants or floating wood above or below the water line. Larvae are slender and sleek, with flat labia lacking bristles; they are rapacious hunters among water plants. Recently, A. californica and A. multicolor have been transferred from Aeshna to Rhionaeschna.
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More common in the south; rare in the southern Yukon. Partial to forest lakes and slow-moving streams; as its name suggests, it likes shady habitats. Often found alongside the Paddle-tailed Darner, its close and usually more common relative. The Shadow Darner is one of the latest flying species in B.C., especially in the south.
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