| Incurvate Emerald | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Female in fen breeding habitat | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | S. incurvata |
| Binomial name | |
| Somatochlora incurvata Walker, 1918 | |
The incurvate emerald (Somatochlora incurvata) is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in Canada and the United States. Its natural habitat is fens.
The incurvate emerald was first described in 1918 by Canadian entomologist Edmund Murton Walker, based on specimens from Whitefish Point, Michigan. At the time, he thought it possible that it was only a "local race" of the closely related forcipate emerald. [2]
Somatochlora incurvata is a medium-sized, slender, elongate dragonfly about 5.8 cm long. [3] It is larger than many other species in the genus Somatochlora . [4] The thorax and abdomen are metallic brown to black with yellowish brown spots on the sides. The eyes are green. [4]
The incurvate emerald has a relatively restricted range in northeastern North America, ranging from Nova Scotia south to New York and west to Wisconsin. [3]
Incurvate emeralds are found in bogs and fens. The larvae are thought to reside within saturated Sphagnum moss. Eggs are laid in small pools with the breeding habitat, which may even include temporary depressions created by footprints. [3] Adults may be found foraging in a wide variety of other habitats. [3]
Like other dragonflies, both larvae and adults feed on smaller insects and other invertebrates. [3] Adults are active in the day from June to October, and the species overwinters as larvae. [3]
Formerly thought to be rare, more recent surveys have found that the species is reasonably common in parts of its range. Potential threats include peat harvesting, cranberry farming, water pollution, and alteration of water levels. [3] Incurvate Emerald is ranked as globally secure (G5), but is considered rare in many of the states and provinces it is found. [3]
A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata, infraorder Anisoptera. Adult dragonflies are characterized by large, multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches, and an elongated body. Dragonflies can be mistaken for the related group, damselflies (Zygoptera), which are similar in structure, though usually lighter in build; however, the wings of most dragonflies are held flat and away from the body, while damselflies hold their wings folded at rest, along or above the abdomen. Dragonflies are agile fliers, while damselflies have a weaker, fluttery flight. Many dragonflies have brilliant iridescent or metallic colours produced by structural colouration, making them conspicuous in flight. An adult dragonfly's compound eyes have nearly 24,000 ommatidia each.
Aeshna isoceles is a small hawker dragonfly that is found in Europe, mostly around the Mediterranean, and the lowlands of North Africa. Its common name in English is green-eyed hawker. In Britain it is a rare and local species and is known as the Norfolk hawker. It has a brown colour with green eyes and clear wings and also a yellow triangular mark on the second abdominal segment which gave rise to its scientific name. It used to be in the genus Anaciaeschna as it has several differences from the other members of the genus Aeshna. Its specific name is often spelt isosceles.
The beautiful demoiselle is a European damselfly belonging to the family Calopterygidae. It is often found along fast-flowing waters where it is most at home.
The Corduliidae, also knowns as the emeralds, emerald dragonflies or green-eyed skimmers, is a family of dragonflies. These dragonflies are usually black or dark brown with areas of metallic green or yellow, and most of them have large, emerald-green eyes. The larvae are black, hairy-looking, and usually semiaquatic. This family include species called "baskettails", "emeralds", "sundragons", "shadowdragons", and "boghaunters". They are not uncommon and are found nearly worldwide, but some individual species are quite rare. Hine's emerald dragonfly, for example, is an endangered species in the United States.
The downy emerald is a species of dragonfly. It is metallic green and bronze in color, and its thorax is coated with fine hairs, hence its name. Like most other emeralds, the downy emerald has bright shiny green eyes. Adults are around 5 cm in length, and are in flight from May through July each year.
The Hine’s emerald(Somatochlora hineana) is a dragonfly species found in the United States and Canada. It was listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1995. It is characterized by a unique dark green thorax and two yellow lateral stripes. Hine's emeralds measure 2.5 inches in length with a 3.3 inch wingspan. Populations exist in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, and in Ontario, Canada. Individuals live for roughly two to four years, inhabiting wetlands, forests, and marshes.
Somatochlora, or the striped emeralds, is a genus of dragonflies in the family Corduliidae with 42 described species found across the Northern Hemisphere.
The great raft spider or fen raft spider is a European species of spider in the family Pisauridae. Like other Dolomedes spiders, it is semiaquatic, hunting its prey on the surface of water. It occurs mainly in neutral to alkaline, unpolluted water of fens and grazing marsh.
The Bulgarian emerald, Corduliochlora borisi, is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae, and the only species in the genus Corduliochlora. It is found in Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey. Its natural habitat is rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss. The species is named after Boris Marinov. It was formerly treated as a member of the genus Somatochlora.
The Quebec Emerald is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in Canada and the United States. Its natural habitat is fens.
Somatochlora margarita, the Texas emerald, is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is endemic to the United States. Its natural habitat is rivers.
Somatochlora sahlbergi, the treeline emerald, is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found at high latitudes across northern Eurasia and North America, and occurs farther north than any other dragonfly.
The white-faced darter or small whiteface is a dragonfly belonging to the genus Leucorrhinia in the family Libellulidae, characterised by red and black markings and a distinctive white patch on the head. It is found in wetlands and peat bogs from northern Europe eastwards to Siberia, and the adults are active from around April till September, which is known as the "flight period". It breeds in acidic bodies of water, laying its eggs in clumps of sphagnum moss that provide a safe habitat for larval development. The larvae are particularly vulnerable to predation by fish, and so are usually found in lakes where fish are not present. L. dubia is listed as a species of least concern (LC) by the IUCN Red List, however, it is potentially threatened by habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change.
Sympetrum vicinum, the yellow-legged meadowhawk or autumn meadowhawk, is a member of the Libellulidae family and grows to 26–35 mm long.
The river clubtail or yellow-legged dragonfly is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It is found in Europe. Its natural habitat are rivers and large streams. The dragonfly flies from June to September depending on the location.
Chalcolestes viridis, formerly Lestes viridis, is a damselfly of the family Lestidae. It has a metallic green body and at rest it holds its wings away from its body. Its common name is the willow emerald damselfly or the western willow spreadwing.
Decoy Pit, Pools and Woods is a 17.7-hectare (44-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south of Aldermaston in Berkshire. An area of 8 hectares is a nature reserve called Decoy Heath, which is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.
Somatochlora ensigera, the plains emerald, is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in central North America.
Somatochlora alpestris, or the alpine emerald, is a species of dragonfly from the family Corduliidae. It is found in European highlands, southern Scandinavia, and east to southern Siberia in Asia.
Somatochlora septentrionalis, the muskeg emerald, is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is endemic to Canada, where it is found from Yukon and British Columbia east to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
