Somatochlora septentrionalis

Somatochlora septentrionalis
male
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Secure  (NatureServe) [2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Corduliidae
Genus:	Somatochlora
Species:	S. septentrionalis
Binomial name
Somatochlora septentrionalis (Hagen, 1861)
Synonyms [3]
Cordulia septentrionalis Hagen, 1861

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. ^[2]

Description

Adult muskeg emeralds are 39–48 mm (1.5–1.9 in) long. ^[4] The body is metallic green, brown and black, with a faint yellow spot on the thorax. This species is identical to Whitehouse's emerald (Somatochlora whitehousei) except in the shape of the male cerci and the female subgenital plate. ^[4]

• 
  female
• 
  male cerci

Life History

Muskeg emeralds occur in open fens with pools of open water. Males patrol over the pools, and females lay eggs by tapping in the open water and in floating vegetation. ^[4] Adults fly from June to August. ^[4]

References

1. Paulson, D.R. (2017). "Somatochlora septentrionalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017 e.T50978905A65836334. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T50978905A65836334.en . Retrieved 29 August 2024.
2. "Somatochlora septentrionalis". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
3. Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama.
4. Paulson, Dennis (2011). Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. pp. 351–352.