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Clamp-tipped Emerald

Somatochlora tenebrosa

The Clamp-tipped Emerald is a long slender Emerald with two elongated yellow thoracic side spots that fade with age and large distinctive clamp shaped claspers. They are typically found around small forest streams that are comprised of a series of pools and riffles

Identification

Field Marks
  • Average adult size is approximately 2.0 to 2.5 inches
  • Face is dark on top and brown in the front
  • Emerald green eyes
  • Brown thorax mixed with metallic green
  • Two long thoracic strips that fade with age
  • Thin dark abdomen with yellow spot on the side of segment 2 and a ring between segments 2 and 3
  • Large uniquely clamp shaped claspers
  • Cerci bend down, from the middle, at around a 110 degree angle and come together
  • Epiproct curves upward toward the cerci
  • From above the cerci look like two arms coming together to pray

Click on photos above for a close-up view.
Field Marks
  • Female is colored similarly to the male
  • Face is dark on top and brown in the front with metallic green eyes
  • Brown thorax mixed with metallic green and 2 long stripes that fade with age
  • Thin dark abdomen with long terminal appendages
  • Long triangular subgenital plate which hangs perpendicular to the abdomen

Click on photos above for a close-up view.

Natural History

Behavior

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Habitat

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Reproduction

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Range Maps

Click on the icons above for this species' range maps

Click here for county and state checklists from Odonata Central.

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.

© JEFFREY FISCHER 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.