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Somatochlora forcipata (Forcipate Emerald)BC conservation rank: S2S3. Blue List. This species has been down-listed from S1S2 given it in 2000; the number of known localities doubled from three to six between 2000 and 2002.Description: Similar to S. semicircularis but more slender. The thorax sides have two whitish oval spots. The abdomen has small, dull-yellow spots (on segments 5 to 8 on males, and 3 to 7 on females), which are usually absent on S. semicircularis. Male's appendages, fig. 13e; vulvar lamina, fig. 14e. Length: male 48 mm, female 49 mm. Global Distribution: In eastern North America this species ranges from Manitoba and Labrador south to Minnesota and West Virginia (Needham et al. 2000); in the west it is known from only seven localities in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta (one record) and British Columbia (six localities). Faunal element: Transition (see Appendix 2). BC Distribution: From Kootenay National Park in the southern Rocky Mountains to Williston Lake; central BC plateaus. Biology: Rare; first discovered in BC in 1998. Lives around shallow spring-fed streamlets trickling through subalpine hillside fens (e.g., WF03-04) or in small pools associated with flowing groundwater in such situations. Females lay eggs in moss and algal mats. Patrolling males often fly in shady glades in open spruce forests. BC flight period: mid June to early September; all records from mid July to early August. Management and protection considerations: Because of its attachment to cool, flowing groundwater, this species may be particularly sensitive to changes in local hydrology. There is also a danger that its small breeding sites may be overlooked as wetlands are modified in logging road construction and other development. These sites appear to be rare, at least along the road corridors sampled in this study, but further inventory is recommended to confirm this impression. In general, known localities in forest fen habitats should be managed to maintain water table quality. Development that may affect the hydrology of a catchment area should be managed to minimize impacts.
Somatochlora forcipata Map 3. Frequency of records in British Columbia by NTS 1/50,000 mapsheet. |
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