The American Emerald is a medium sized dark dragonfly with minimal marking and metallic green eyes. Although they have no thoracic stripes the thorax is a mix of dark brown and metallic green. This is one of the more common Emerald species
Males patrol over open water or along the shoreline, alternating between flight and hovering and frequently changing the area patrolled. More active when temps are cooler. Often found early in the summer mixed in with Baskettails in feeding swarms. When not in flight they will hang vertically from sticks or perch horizontally on leaves
Forested and boggy lakes and ponds, beaver ponds, fens and marshes
Mating lasts a while and usually takes place partially in flight. Females lay eggs by flying fast in a straight line and tapping their abdomen against the water every few feet, often among vegetation
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Range maps and checklists courtesy of Odonata Central. Copyright © 2016 OdonataCentral. All Rights Reserved. Abbott, J.C. 2006-2018. OdonataCentral: An online resource for the distribution and identification of Odonata. Available at www.odonatacentral.org.