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Ryan Brady | profile | all galleries >> Dragonflies 2008 >> Emeralds (Family Corduliidae) >> Forcipate Emerald (Somatochlora forcipata) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Forcipate Emerald (Somatochlora forcipata)

A member of the Somatochlora genus, otherwise known as the "striped emeralds." (1) The anterior yellow thoracic side stripe is an elongated oval (not circular, not quite a stripe), while the posterior yellow stripe is a slightly smaller oval. (2) The abdomen is black with pale spots on some mid-segments (brighter on fresher individuals). (3) Male claspers are pincer-shaped and arched, while the female has a rounded and mostly yellow "Y-type" ovipositor (parallel to length of abdomen) that is longer than segment 9. Compare with Incurvate, Kennedy's, and Delicate Emeralds. This species is uncommon to rare and mostly found in northern Wisconsin. I saw just a couple of individuals in 2008.
Forcipate Emerald (S. forcipata) - female
Forcipate Emerald (S. forcipata) - female
Forcipate Emerald (S. forcipata) - female
Forcipate Emerald (S. forcipata) - female
Forcipate Emerald (S. forcipata) - female
Forcipate Emerald (S. forcipata) - female
Forcipate Emerald (S. forcipata) - male
Forcipate Emerald (S. forcipata) - male
Forcipate Emerald (S. forcipata) - male
Forcipate Emerald (S. forcipata) - male