Somatochlora (Striped Emeralds)

The scientific name comes from two Greek words: soma, meaning "body", and khloros, meaning "green". The English name refers to the yellow or white markings on the sides of the metallic green or bronzy thorax, but most of the distinctly striped species live in eastern North America; western species have spots, short bars or no marks at all. They all have brilliant green eyes. Most North American species are boreal and Appalachian; 12 of 26 occur in BC. Most live around northern or mountain lakes and peatlands.

Species can be hard to identify, especially the females. Look for pale marks on the side of the thorax and white rings between the segments of the abdomen. S. albicincta, S. cingulata and S. hudsonica have narrow, white abdominal rings. Examine the shapes of the male's upper appendages and the female's vulvar lamina. And look for a brown spot at the base of the hindwings - not the membranule, which can also be dark, but an additional spot (S. franklini, S. septentrionalis and S. whitehousei have it).

Figure 13. Somatochlora male appendages, (side view above, top view below): a, walshii; b, minor; c, franklini; d, kennedyi; e, forcipata; f, semicircularis; g, whitehousei; h, septentrionalis; i, sahlbergi; j, brevicincta; k, albicincta; l, hudsonica; m, cingulata. A10 = abdominal segment 10; UA, LA = upper, lower appendages. The upper appendages come in three main shapes: a-b, converging and the tips turned gently upward; c-f, pincer-like and the tips pointed downward with no curl at the tip; g-m, tips bent abruptly inward and strongly curled.

Figure 14. Female Somatochlora have a spout-like or flap-like vulvar lamina (side view above, top view below): a, (side view only) minor; b, walshii; c, franklini; d, kennedyi; e, forcipata; f, semicircularis; g, whitehousei; h, septentrionalis; i, sahlbergi; j, brevicincta; k, hudsonica; l, albicincta; m, cingulata. A9 = abdominal segment 9; VL = vulvar lamina.

Somatochlora albicincta (Ringed Emerald)

Somatochlora brevicincta (Quebec Emerald)

Somatochlora cingulata (Lake Emerald)

Somatochlora forcipata (Forcipate Emerald)

Somatochlora franklini (Delicate Emerald)

Somatochlora hudsonica (Hudsonian Emerald)

Somatochlora kennedyi (Kennedy's Emerald)

Somatochlora minor (Ocellated Emerald)

Somatochlora semicircularis (Mountain Emerald)

Somatochlora septentrionalis (Muskeg Emerald)

Somatochlora walshii (Brush-tipped Emerald)

Somatochlora whitehousei (Whitehouse's Emerald)