Of the 26 species of Somatochlora found in North America, 12 species have been reliably recorded in Michigan (see maps below). Sometimes commonly encountered corduliids, these large larvae principally frequent streams but also are encountered in lakes as well as seeps and bogs, or springs and streams draining these systems. This species appears most common in the UP.
Several species listed in the key below have only rarely been encountered in our state. S. cingulata, S. linearis and S. tenebrosa are also known only from a few counties in the state, in the UP and LP, respectively. S. elongata, S. kennedyi, S. minor, S. walshi and S. williamsoni are found in widely scattered localities in both the lower and upper peninsulas. S.forcipata, S. franklini and S. incurvata have been found only in the UP. The early record for S. tenebrosa (Kormondy 1958), which did not have any locality information, has recently been determined to be S. hineana, and new records for this species have been found in calcareous fens in the Lower Peninsula. S. ensigera is also known from several records in northern Ohio and central Indiana, and thus may also be encountered in the southern part of our state. The endangered S. hineana (Hine's Emerald) - currently known only from northern Illinois and northern Wisconsin and northern Michigan (in the Great Lakes region, but populations are now known from Missouri). This species apparently favors small seeps draining calcareous escarpments through thickly vegetated wetlands. Several populations of S. incurvata have been located in Jackson Co., Wisconsin, from which the larva has been reared and whose description is soon forthcoming (Smith 1997). Additional populations Mackinac Co., Michigan, have recently been discovered, and recent adult surveys have shown the species to be locally common (Steffins 1997; unpubl. MOS data, 2005).).
Other links with information on the biology or ecology of Somatochlora:
Map 1
Map 2
Map 3
Map 4
Map 5
Map 6
Map 7
Map 8
Map 9
Map 10
Map
11
Map 12
Larvae undescribed (1997) - S. incurvata
1a. Dorsal hooks present (picture) - 2
1b. Dorsal hooks absent (picture) - 8
2a.(1a). Dorsal
hooks 5 or 6-9 and are low knobs, blunt, the last one not extending
to middle of segment 10 (picture) - S. williamsoni - character table
2b. Dorsal hooks falciform, acute, the last one projecting
beyond the middle of segment 10 (picture) - 3
Back to previous
couplet (1)
3a.(2b).
Epiproct of male longitudinally concave, anteapical tubercle slightly
elevated (picture) -
4
3b. Epiproct of male nearly flat above, anteapical tubercle
not elevated (picture) - 5
Back to previous
couplet (2); Back to beginning of
key
Note: For the six species that follow this couplet, for only males
have reliable distinguishing characters been found.
4a.(3a).
Middorsal hook on Ab3 vestigial, hook on Ab small but well-developed
(picture); total length > 23 mm; hind femur length
6.8-7.6 mm - S.
hineana - character
table
Note:
Because this species is federally listed as ENDANGERED, collection
without permit issued by USFWS is illegal.
4b. No middorsal hook on Ab3, hook on Ab4 vestigial
(picture); smaller than above, total length < 23
mm; hind femur length shorter, ca. 6.0 mm - S. tenebrosa - character table
Back to
previous couplet (3);
Back to beginning of
key
5a.(3b). Dorsal
hook on abdominal segment 4 not greater
than 0.25x than that segment's mid-dorsal length (picture) -
6
5b. Dorsal hook on abdominal segment 4 greater than 0.5x
than that segment's mid-dorsal length (picture) - 7
Back to previous
couplet (3); Back to beginning of
key
6a.(5a). Length
of lateral abdominal spines < 0.5x as basal width; epiproct not
acuminate (picture); cerci equal in length to epiproct (picture); no
series of long prominent setae on posterior margins of abdominal
segment (picture) - S. linearis
- character
table
6b. Length of lateral abdominal spines = or > 0.5x as
basal width; epiproct acuminate with very slender tip (picture) -
S.
walshi
-
character
table
Back to previous
couplet (4); Back to beginning of
key
7a.(5b). Hind
tibiae greater than 8.4 mm, hind femora greater than 7.4 mm -
S.
elongata -
character
table
7b. Hind tibiae less than 8.4 mm, hind femora less than 7.4
mm; dorsal hooks present on segments 3-9; dorsal hook on Ab4 in
lateral view about 0.75x length of hook on Ab5 (picture); well-developed dorsal hook on Ab3 -
S.
minor -
character
table
Back to previous
couplet (4); Back to beginning of
key
8a.(1b). Labium
extending laterally over inner edge of eyes (picture); male cerci
with outer margin not regular arcuate, more or less sinuate; lateral
spines, when present, on both abdominal segments 8 and 9 (picture);
metafemur long, usually greater than 7.3 mm; abdomen with a median
series of slightly elevated dorsal prominences (picture); epiproct of male with a distinct knob on
each side (picture) - S.
cingulata - character table
8b. Labium not extending laterally over inner edge of eyes
(picture); male cerci with outer margin regularly arcuate (picture);
lateral spines, when present, confined to segment 9 (picture);
metafemur greater than 7.3 mm; abdomen without median dorsal
prominences (picture); epiproct of male without lateral knobs
(picture) - 9
Back to beginning
of key (1)
9a.(8b). Fringe
of hair on hind margins of 6-9 forming two rows of dorsolateral tufts
(picture); lateral spines absent from 9 or represented by very minute
denticles (picture); lateral setae 9 or 10 (picture) -
S.
forcipata
- character
table
9b. Fringe of hair on hind margins of 6-9 not forming two
rows of dorsolateral tufts (picture); lateral spines normally present
on 9 (picture); palpal setae 7 or 8 (picture) - 10
Back to previous
couplet (7); Back to beginning of
key
10a.(9b). Fringe
of hair on middle of hind margin of 7 or 8 forming a thick, dorsal
tuft (picture) -
S.
kennedyi
- character
table
10b. Fringe of hair on hind margin of 7 or 8 not forming a
thick median tuft (picture); body length 17mm, hind femur 5.25mm -
S.
franklini
- character
table
Back to previous
couplet (8); Back to beginning of
key
|
Species |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
cingulata key |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
elongata key |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
forcipata key |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
franklini key |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
hineana key |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
kennedyi key |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
linearis key |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
minor key |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
tenebrosa key |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
walshi key |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
williamsoni key |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cashatt, E. D. and T. E. Vogt (2001). "Description of the larva of Somatochlora hineana with a key to the larvae of the North American species of Somatochlora (Odonata: Corduliidae)." International Journal of Odonatology 4(2): 93.
Daigle, J. J. 1991. A new key to the larvae of North American Somatochlora. Argia 3(3):9-10.
Foster, S. E. and D. A. Soluk (2004). "Evaluating exuvia collection as a management tool for the federally endangered Hine's emerald dragonfly, Somatochlora hineana Williamson (Odonata: Cordulidae)." Biological Conservation 118(1): 15.
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.
Harvey, F. L. 1898. A contribution to the Odonata of Maine, II. Entomological News 3:269-277.
Jones, C. D. (2001). "Somatochlora incurvata (incurvate emerald) new to Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario." Ontario Odonata 2(May 2001).
Jones, C. D. and P. S. Burke (2004). "Mocha emerald (Somatochlora linearis), new to Ontario and Canada." Ontario Odonata 5(Nov 2004).
Kormondy, E. J. 1958. A catalogue of the Odonata of Michigan. Miscellaneous Publications, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, No. 104. 43pp.
O'Brien, M. (1997). "Somatochlora tenebrosa not in Michigan." Williamsonia 1(4), November 1997: 3.
O'Brien, M. (2001). "Somatochlora tenebrosa at Ives Road Fen." Williamsonia 5(4): 7.
O'Brien, M. F. (2001). "Hine's emerald dragonfly: a federally-endangered species Somatochlora hineana Williamson." Williamsonia 5(2-3): 5.
Martin, René. 1907. Cordulines. Collections zoologiques du Baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps, Catolgue systématique et descriptif. Coll. Selys Longchamps 17:1-94, f 1-99, cpl 1-3.
Say, T. 1839. Descriptions of new North American neuropterous insects and observations on some already described by (the late) Th. Say. Journal of the Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia 8:9-46.
Scudder, S. H. 1866. Notes on some Odonata from the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History 10:211-222.
Selys-Longschamps, E. de. 1871. Synopsis des Cordulines. Bulletin de l'Académie royale des Sciences de Belgique (2)31:238-316;519-565.
Selys-Longschamps, E. de. 1878. Secondes additions au synopsis des Cordulines. Bulletin de l'Académie royale des Sciences de Belgique (2)45:183-222.
Smith, W. A. 1997. Wisconsin Williamsonia and T & E status for corduliids and gomphids. Williamsonia 1(4):7
Soluk, D.A., B.J. Swisher, D.S. Zercher, J.D. Miller, and A.B. Hults. 1998. The ecology of Hine's emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana): Monitoring populations and determining patterns of habitat use. Activity summary and report of findings (September 1996-August 1997). IL Nat. History Survey, Champaign, IL. 111 pp
Steffins, W. 1997. New Somatochlora county records and notes for the UP. Williamsonia 1(4):7.
Steffens, W. P. (1998). "New distribution records of Somatochlora hineana (Odonata: Corduliidae)." Great Lakes Entomologist 31(1): 25.
Vogt, T. E. and E. D. Cashatt (1994). "Distribution, habitat, and field biology of Somatochlora hineana (Odonata: Corduliidae)." Annals of the Entomological Society of America 87(5): 599.
Walker, E. M. 1907. A new Somatochlora with a note on the species known from Ontario. The Canadian Entomologist 39:69-74.
Walker, E. M. 1918. On the American representatives of Somatochlora arctica with description of two new species (Odonata). The Canadian Entomologist 53:221-226.
Walker, E. M., and J. S. Corbet. 1975. The Odonata of Canada and Alaska, Vol. 3. University of Toronto Press: Toronto. xvi + 308.
Williamson, E. B. 1931. A new North American Somatochlora (Odonata - Cordulinae). Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan 225:1-8, 1 pl.
