Phylogeny of Anax with special attention to the common green darner (Anax junius)

Anax is a genus of the family Aeshnidae and is found worldwide, except Antarctica, and contains many of the largest extant dragonflies on earth.  However, species relationships within Anax are poorly understood.  Here we present a molecular phylogeny of Anax using the nuclear EPIC (exon-primed intron-crossing) marker PRMT (protein arginine methyltransferase) and mitochondrial markers COI/II and CytB.  Special attention is given to A. junius, the common green darner, which is a predominately North American species known for its lengthy migrations.  The placement of A. strenuus, an isolated Hawaiian species, is also discussed with suggested links between North American and Asian species.