Washington designated the green darner dragonfly (Anax junius Drury) as the official state insect in 1997. Native to North America, the green darner is one of the largest and fastest-flying dragonflies. The green darner dragonfly is also called "darning needle," "Mosquito Hawk," and "Lord of June."

Seen in early spring through fall, the green darner dragonfly is easy to identify with its large size (body length of 2 ¼" to 3 ½"), silvery iridescent wings, bulbous compound eyes, and its emerald green thorax with a stripe of deep garnet running down the middle of a blue abdomen. The green darner is one of 38 species of dragonflies common in the United States and Southern Canada.

Green darner dragonflies rest on vegetation near bodies of water - photo © Henry Detwiler / Southwest Birders (used by permission) - see all state insects