New Jersey Endangered and Threatened Species Field Guide
Zoom+ An adult male forcipate emerald. © Glenn CorbiereForcipate emerald
Somatochlora forcipata
Species Group: Invertebrate
Conservation Status
State: Special Concern
IDENTIFICATION
Ranging in size from 1.9”-2.0”, the forcipate emerald has lateral yellow oval markings on the thorax. The abdomen is slender with lateral yellow markings. Females are stockier and have a pale yellow ovipositor.
Zoom+ Range of the forcipate emerald in New Jersey.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
This species is only known to occur in one location in Sussex County. The habitat where they are found in New Jersey consists of sphagnum swamps and marshes with small streams flowing through them. Their full range is north to the Canadian Maritimes, west to Alberta and south to West Virginia.
DIET
Nymphs feed on a wide variety of aquatic insects, small fish, and tadpoles. Adults feed in flight on small flying insects such as flies and mosquitoes.
LIFE CYCLE
Range-wide, the forcipate emerald flies from late May to late August. But in New Jersey, it has only been reported in late August.
CURRENT STATUS, THREATS, AND CONSERVATION
The forcipate emerald is considered a species of Special Concern in New Jersey.
Text derived from the book, Field Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies of New Jersey. 2009. By Allen E. Barlow, David M. Golden and Jim Bangma. Edited and updated by Larissa Smith in 2011.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Family: Corduliidae
Genus: Somatochlora
Species: S. forcipata
Find Related Info: Invertebrates, Special concern
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