About Epiaeschna heros (Fabricius, 1798)
Epiaeschna heros, commonly known as the swamp darner, is a species of darner dragonfly that belongs to the family Aeshnidae. This species is native to eastern North America. It is the only living (extant) member of the genus Epiaeschna, which has many fossil specimens discovered in Eurasia. These fossil records indicate that the genus had a much wider distribution during the mid-Cenozoic era. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed Epiaeschna heros as "LC" (least concern), meaning there is no immediate threat to the survival of this species, and its current population is stable. This IUCN conservation assessment was reviewed in 2017. Individuals of this species have been observed feeding on Solenopsis invicta ants while the ants are conducting their nuptial flights.
