Notes - Michigan Species List - Key - References
Back to Libellulidae - Back to Anisoptera - Back to Home Page
Page last updated: 06 August 1998 (EB)
Notes on the Michigan Species of Leucorrhinia
Of the seven species of Leucorrhinia found in North America, five are found in our area (see maps below). Larvae are small, smooth and greenish in appearence with brownish markings. Leucorrhinia larvae are common in bog lakes and ponds with floating vegetation; however, L. intacta can be common in marshy bays, farm ponds and slow streams. L. hudsonica is a denizen of bogs and cold marshy ponds; it is a widely distributed boreal and montaine species with its southern range limit in Michigan. Similarly, L. glacialis and L. proxima are found along the margins of floating bogs and muskegs, the former species inhabiting the waters of high acidity. Walker and Corbet (1975) remains a most useful treatment for Michigan species.
WWW-links on the ecology and biology of larval
Leucorrhinia:
no links found as of 15 January 1998
Map 1
Map 2
Map 3
Map 4
Map 51a. Dorsal spines on abdominal segments 3-8; venter of abdomen without continuous longitudinal dark bands, although transverse dark bands may be present (picture) - 2
1b. Dorsal
spines absent on abdominal segments 7-8; venter of abdomen with three
conspicuous (rarely inconspicuous) continuous longitudinal dark bands
(picture) - 4
2a.(1a). Eyes very prominent (picture); lateral spines on
abdominal segment 9 extending nearly back to tips of paraprocts or
beyond (picture) - L.
frigida
2b. Eyes not
prominent (picture); lateral spines on abdominal segment 9 clearly
short of the tips of the paraproct (picture) - 3
Back to previous couplet
(1)
3a.(2b). Dorsal hook on abdominal segment 7 as long as
mid-dorsal length of that segment, that of segment 8 projecting well
over the base of segment 9 (picture); lateral spines on segment 8
directed parallel and caudad, outer margins not continuing with the
regular curve of the abdominal margin when viewed dorsally (picture);
lateral spines of segment 9 extending beyond tips of cerci (picture)
- L. intacta
3b. Dorsal
hook on abdominal segment 7 clearly shorter than mid-dorsal length of
that segment, that of segment 8 projecting just past the base of
segment 9 (picture); lateral spines on segment 8 curved with regular
curve of abdominal margin, appearing slightly convergent (picture);
lateral spines of segment 9 do not extend to the tips of the cerci
(picture) - L.
proxima
Back to previous couplet
(2); Back to beginning of key
4a.(1b). Total length < 18.5 mm; lateral spines on
abdominal segments 8 and 9 with outer margins slightly divergent ,
not following the contour of the outer margin of those segments
(picture); some vestigial dorsal hooks may be present (picture);
lateral spines of abdominal segment 9 extending to, or slightly
beyond, the tips of the cerci (picture) - L. hudsonica
4b. Total
length > 18.5 mm; lateral spines on abdominal segments 8 and 9
with outer margins not divergent (pictures); no vestigial dorsal
spines; lateral spine of abdominal segment 9 extending short of the
tips of the cerci (picture) - L.
glacialis
Back to previous couplet
(1)
Brittinger, C. C. 1850. Die Libelluliden des Kaiserreichs Österreich. S. B. Acad. Wiss. Wien 4, Mathem.-nat. Klasse:328-336.
Calvert, P. P. 1890. Notes on some North American Odonata, with descriptions of three new species. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 17:33-40.
Hagen, H. A. 1890. A synopsis of the odonate genus Leucorrhinia Britt. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 17:229-236.
Hagen, H. A. 1861. Synopsis of the Neuroptera of North America, with a list of the South American species. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 4:1-347.
Selys-Longchamps, M. E. de. 1850. Revue des odonates ou Libellules d'Europe. Mémoires de la Société royale des Sciences de Liége 6:1-408.
Walker, E. M., and J. S. Corbet. 1975. The Odonata of Canada and Alaska, Vol. 3. University of Toronto Press: Toronto. xvi + 308 pp.