| Gynacantha | |
|---|---|
| Black-kneed duskhawker Gynacantha bullata female, Aburi Botanical Gardens, Ghana | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Anisoptera |
| Family: | Aeshnidae |
| Genus: | Gynacantha Rambur, 1842 |
Gynacantha is a genus of dragonflies in the family Aeshnidae. The females have two prominent spines under the last abdominal segment. This gives the genus name (from Greek female and thorn) and the common name two-spined darners; they are also known as duskhawkers.
The genus name Gynacantha is derived from Greek γυνή (gynē, “woman”) and ἄκανθα (akantha, “thorn”). The name refers to the spines at the end of the female abdomen.
The genus Gynacantha includes the following species: