Emerald Dragonflies, Corduliidae, of California

This is the webpage for
California Emeralds
aka
California Corduliidae

The companion website to Dragonflies (Anisoptera) of California.

Family: EMERALDS - Corduliidae Field/Photo key	Family: EMERALDS - Corduliidae archaic name: Green-eyed Skimmers - click on name to go to that Genera's information - California has 3 genera of Emeralds: All Emeralds have spindle-shaped bodies and most have green eyes Baskettails Epitheca - non-metallic colors; brown and yellow patterned; hairy thoraxes; found at lower elevations than others; often fly at waist height along trails and paths in sunlit areas; 2 CA species Common Emeralds Cordulia - dark with metallic green with divergent forked appendages; 1 CA species Striped Emeralds Somatochlora - dark with metallic green; high flyers; long appendages pointed inwards; 2 CA species

male female Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia	Beaverpond Baskettail Epitheca canis size: medium, length 43 - 51 mm, wingspan 62 - 65 mm male: eyes teal-green, immature brown, contrast with dull brown flattened spindle shaped abdomen, yellow side spots; thorax hairy; clear wings. appendages bent down at end female: like male, body broader similar species: identical to RARE Spiny Baskettail in the field which has straight appendages behavior: often patrols along pathways at waist height in sunny patches, turning when it reaches a shady area; female unrolls her 'basket' of eggs in strings, attaching them to floating vegetation habitat: slow waters in lowland forests California flight period: March - July California distribution: central and northern Calif. California distribution map Southwestern distribution map
male female Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia	Spiny Baskettail Epitheca spinigera size: medium, length 43 - 47 mm, wingspan 61 - 69 mm male: green eyes contrast with dull brown and yellow patterned body; abdomen flattened and enlarged mid-length; thorax hairy; clear wings; flies at waist height; appendages straight with tiny downward tooth midway on underside of upper appendage; all black behind the eyes nymph/exuvia have distinctive long spines on seg. 9 that extend beyond the abdomen tip: exuvia can be used as voucher for distribution female: like male, body broader similar species: almost identical to Beaverpond Baskettail which has bent appendages (see links above) usually appears somewhat darker than Beaverpond Baskettail habitat: slow waters in mountain forests California flight period: May - early July California distribution: RARE: Donner & Blue Lakes in Lassen Co. & near Hilt in Siskiyou County California distribution map Southwestern distribution map
male female Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia	American Emerald Cordulia shurtleffii sizes: medium length 42 - 50 mm, wingspan 62 - 66 mm male: beautiful emerald green eyes; dark hairy thorax with green metallic tones; abdomen enlarged mid-length with single thin white ring between segments 2 & 3; appendages splayed female: like male; body cylindrical, cerci 2 mm or less similar species: Mountain Emerald has 'pincher-shaped' appendages; Ringed Emerald has a white ring on each segment, female Mountain Emerald almost identical in the field; compare in-hand by cerci length behavior: mass emergences habitat: wooded ponds, bogs California flight period: April- September California distribution: northern mountains California distribution map Southwestern distribution map
male female Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia	Mountain Emerald Somatochlora semicircularis size: medium/large, length 48 - 55 mm, wingspan 64 - 70 mm male: beautiful emerald green eyes; dark hairy thorax, sides have two yellow markings within metallic green area; dark abdomen enlarged at mid-length, may show yellow spots on sides of segment 5-8; appendages point inwards, pincher-like female: similar to male; broader abdomen; cerci 3 mm or more similar species: American Emerald has appendages are splayed; Ringed Emerald has a white ring on each segment, female American Emerald almost identical in the field; compare in-hand by cerci length. habitat: ponds, sedge meadows with small streams California flight period: May - August California distribution: northern mountains) California distribution map Southwestern distribution map
male female Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia	Ringed Emerald Somatochlora albicincta size: medium length 45 - 50 mm, wingspan 62 - 67 mm male: Similar to Mt. Emerald but has narrow incomplete white ring on each segment female: similar to male; broader, more cylindrical abdomen habitat: lakes ponds or streams with sparse emergent vegetation and forested margins California flight period: June - September California distribution: RARE: far northern CA California distribution map Southwestern distribution map

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