Field Marks

• Average adult size is approximately from 1.7 to 2.0 inches
• Dark, black and metallic green face with yellow on the sides
• Bright emerald eyes
• Thorax is brown and metallic green with two, nearly equal sized, pale yellow to white, oval spots
• Pale ring separating abdominal segments 2 and 3
• Dark abdomen that narrows at segments 3 and 4 then widens at segment 5, no specific markings on top
• Small yellow side spots at the base of segments 5 to 8
• Claspers are forceps shaped, angling out and then back in at the tip. Tips are widely separated
• Cerci slope downward and come to a point

Field Marks

• Female is colored similarly to the male
• Yellow side spot on abdominal segments 3 to 7
• Scoop shaped ovipositor that is about as long as segment 9 and hangs parallel to the abdomen
• Terminal appendages longer than segments 9 and 10 combined

Behavior

Males patrol by flying up and down along the stream right above the water to a few feet above. Foraging typically takes place 6 to 10 feet above roads, trail or other openings. When not in flight Forcipate Emeralds will often perch high in the trees. This is a rare species in Minnesota and Wisconsin

Habitat

Small, slow spring-fed boggy streams

Reproduction

Females lay eggs in open water or moss beds by tapping abdomen on water at irregular intervals