Somatochlora filosa (Hagen, 1861)
Fine-lined Emerald
NatureServe Global Rank: G5
Virginia State Rank: S2
VA DGIF Tier: IV
Federal Legal Status: None
Virginia Legal Status: None
Description: The Fine-lined Emerald is large for a striped Emerald with a length of 2.4 inches. It has a brown face but is metallic green on the dorsal side. The thorax is also a mix of brown and metallic green but has two narrow white stripes, the anterior one occasionally missing. The abdomen is black with white stripes on the first two segments. The male has cerci which are long and slender but curved outward and pointed at the tip. The female is similarly marked but with extended brown on the thorax and abdomen, and orange-tipped wings when immature and brown-tinged wings as they mature.
Similar species: The Fine-lined Emerald is the only Emerald that has stripes on the thorax and base of abdomen. The Treetop (Somatochlora provocans) and Calvert's Emerald (S. calverti)have similar stripes but are yellow and wider. The Mocha Emerald (S. linearis) is similar and often found with the Fine-lined Emerald, but lacks the stripes on the thorax.
North American Range: In the eastern United States, the Fine-lined Emerald is a Coastal Plain species that ranges from southern New Jersey to central Florida. They also range further west to eastern Texas and then north to southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois and western Kentucky.
VA Observations by Locality: Suffolk, City of | Southampton | Suffolk, City of | Caroline | Essex | Isle of Wight | King and Queen | Prince William | Southampton | Stafford | Sussex | Virginia Beach, City of
Flight season and broods: In Virginia, the Fine-lined Emerald is likely active from June into September (possibly through late December).
Aquatic Habitat: Poorly known but suggested as small, sandy forest streams and seeps (Paulson, 2011) or boggy forest trickles or sheet flows (Dunkle, 2000).
Behavior and Ecology: The Fine-lined Emerald flies through open pine forests while feeding, often near the tree-tops, and can be active in dense shade. Males patrol waist height or lower, over swamps slow streams and seeps. A female was observed pushing eggs into a sandy, silt-covered bank (Paulson, 2011).
Population trend and potential threats: The Fine-lined Emerald may be negatively impacted by poor water quality and habitat degradation.
Management practices: Populations should be monitored and habitats preserved.
References: Bangma, J. 2003. The Dragonflies and Damselflies of New Jersey. http://njodes.com/Speciesaccts/species.asp . Accessed: 4/8/2013
Dunkle, Sydney W. 2000. Dragonflies Through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America. Oxford University Press, New York, NY. 266 pp.
LeGrand, H., E. Corey and T. Howard. The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina. http://www.dpr.ncparks.gov/odes/a/accounts.php. Accessed: 4/8/2013
Paulson, Dennis. 2011. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. 530 pp.
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program, 600 E. Main St., 24th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219
This atlas was compiled
by the VA Natural Heritage Program with funds provided by the VA Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries through a state wildlife grant
from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Questions/Comments? Check the contacts page |
Internet Privacy Policy Statement
Last Modified: Friday, 26 February 2021, 03:21:56 PM