Somatochlora minor
| Somatochlora minor | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Superfamily: | Libelluloidea |
| Family: | Corduliidae |
| Genus: | Somatochlora |
| Species: | S. minor |
| Binomial name | |
| Somatochlora minor Calvert in Harvey, 1898 | |
 | |
Somatochlora minor, the ocellated emerald, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae.[2][3][4][5] It is found in North America.[2]
The IUCN conservation status of Somatochlora minor is "LC", least concern, with no immediate threat to the species' survival. The population is stable.[1][6]
Description
The ocellated emerald is a small dragonfly. It has a metallic green face. The thorax is brown and metallic green with conspicuous pale yellow oval spots on each side. The abdomen is black with yellow spots on the basal segments. The female has a downward-facing spike near the end of the abdomen.[7]
Etymology
The genus name Somatochlora means "green bodied", referring to the metallic green coloration of some of its members. The specific epithet minor refers to its small size.[8]
The common name refers to the eye-like spots on the sides of the adult's thorax and the species classification as an emerald.[8]
Behavior
The ocellated emerald often perches on vegetation near small streams between patrols flying close to the water surface.[7]
It oviposits using either repeated taps of moving water or alternating taps of the water surface near the shore and mossy bank above.[7]
Distribution
The ocellated emerald can be found across much of Canada and parts of the northern United States.[7]
Habitat
The ocellated emerald inhabits small to medium, slow to moderately fast streams with pools, in forested or open surroundings.[7]
References
- 1 2 Paulson, D.R. (2017). "Somatochlora minor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T50978881A65836324. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T50978881A65836324.en. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- 1 2 "Somatochlora minor". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
- ↑ "Somatochlora minor Calvert, 1898". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
- ↑ "Somatochlora minor". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
- ↑ "Somatochlora minor Species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
- ↑ "Odonata Central". Retrieved 2018-04-23.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Paulson, Dennis (2011). Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East. Princeton Field Guides.
- 1 2 Paulson, Dennis R.; Dunkle, Sidney W.; Johnson, Jim T. (2024). A Checklist of North American Odonata (PDF) (Report). Retrieved 2026-07-20.
Further reading
- Kalkman, V. J. (2013). Studies on phylogeny and biogeography of damselflies (Odonata) with emphasis on the Argiolestidae (PhD). Leiden University. hdl:1887/22953.
External links
Media related to Somatochlora minor at Wikimedia Commons