lesser emperor dragonfly
A large dragonfly species (Anax parthenope) found in Japan and across Eurasia. Common around ponds and rice fields in summer.
In summer, lesser emperor dragonflies fly around over the pond.
Katakana spelling is standard for this species name; usually written in kana.
Hiragana spelling is also used, especially in casual or child-oriented contexts.
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used. The second character 蜻 is not a jōyō kanji.
The name ギンヤンマ literally means 'silver darner' (銀 + 蜻蜓). The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely refers to the silvery sheen on the male's abdomen.