Corduliidae - Green Eyed Skimmers, Emerald Dragonflies

The dragonflies in this family are large, usually between 1.5 and 3 inches in length. They have bright green eyes, and many species are black with metallic green or yellow markings.

Green-eyed skimmers and emerald dragonflies are found near wooded ponds and streams.

The ringed boghaunter (Williamsonia lintneri ) is one of the species in this family. It is a rare dragonfly found only in Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Wisconsin and New Hampshire. It is an endangered species in New Hampshire and Maine.

The ringed boghaunter is a little over an inch in length. It is black with yellow or orange rings on its abdomen. It has a yellow face and mouth and bright bluish-green eyes. The ringed boghaunter is found in acidic bogs, fens, and wetlands with sphagnum ( peat moss). It is one of the first dragonflies to appear in the spring. It is usually seen from late April to June.

Corduliidae Photo Gallery

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct Not Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.

U.S. Status Key Threatened in US Endangered in US Introduced Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife. Click on U.S. status icon to go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife species profile.

New Hampshire Status Key Threatened in NH Endangered in NH Breeds in NH (birds) Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Location Key
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH Click for More Info Click for Image

Additional Information

Key: Profile Photos Video Audio NH Species

Alabama Shadowdragon - Neurocordulia alabamensis
The Alabama shadowdragon is found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. It is found in coastal regions.
Source: Odonata Central Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Alpine Emerald - Somatochlora alpestris
The Alpine emerald is found in Sweden, Finland, Norway , central Europe, and northeast Asia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

American Emerald - Cordulia shurtleffii
The American emerald is found from Alaska east across Canada to Labrador and south to California, Ohio, and Connecticut.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

American Emerald - Cordulia shurtleffii
Adult American emeralds eat  mosquitoes, flies, butterflies, moths, mayflies, and stoneflies.
Source: Digital Atlas of Idaho Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Australian Emerald- Hemicordulia australiae
The Australian emerald is found in Australia, Indonesia, and New Zealand.
Source: Atlas of Living Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Beaverpond Baskettail - Epitheca canis
The beaverpond baskettail is found in Canada and the northern U.S. It is found across New Hampshire in the late spring.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Brilliant Emerald - Somatochlora metallica
The brilliant emerald is found in Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia, Serbia , Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, the Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
Source: British Dragonfly Society Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Broad-tailed Shadowdragon - Neurocordulia michaeli
The broad-tailed shadowdragon is found in New Brunswick and Ontario, Canada and in Maine.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Brush-tipped Emerald - Somatochlora walshii
The brush-tipped emerald is found throughout southern Canada and the northern United States. It is found throughout New Hampshire.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Brush-tipped Emerald - Somatochlora walshii
The brush-tipped emerald is found in lake outlets, pond outlets, and small streams that go through bogs, fens, or marshes.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Bulgarian Emerald - Somatochlora borisi
The Bulgarian emerald is found in Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey .
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Calvert's Emerald - Somatochlora calverti
Calvert's emerald is found in Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama.
Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Cinnamon Shadowdragon - Neurocordulia virginiensis
The cinnamon shadowdragon is found in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Clamp-tipped Emerald - Somatochlora tenebrosa
The clamp-tipped emerald is found throughout eastern United States and southeast Canada. It is found across New Hampshire.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Clamp-tipped Emerald - Somatochlora tenebrosa
The clamp-tipped emerald is found in shady forest waters.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Common Baskettail - Epitheca cynosura
The common baskettail is found in eastern Canada and the eastern United States. It is found across New Hampshire.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Common Baskettail - Epitheca cynosura
The common baskettail is found near ponds and lakes.
Source: Nebraska Dragonflies and Damselflies Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Coppery Emerald -  Somatochlora georgiana
The coppery emerald is found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. In New Hampshire it is found in southeast New New Hampshire.
Source: Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Delicate Emerald - Somatochlora franklini  
The delicate emerald is found in Alberta, British Columbia, Labrador, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland I, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward I., Québec,and Saskatchewan in Canada and in Alaska, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin in the U.S. In New Hampshire it is rare and found from the White Mountains north.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Delicate Emerald - Somatochlora franklini  
The delicate emerald is around 1.7 inches in length.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Delicate Emerald - Somatochlora franklini  
The delicate emerald  is found in sedge- and moss-filled fens, at the foot of hillsides below seepage or in wide-open meadows.
Source: The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Dot-winged Baskettail - Epitheca petechialis
The Dot-winged Baskettail is found in the midwest from Nebraska to Texas.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Downy Emerald - Cordulia aenea
The downy emerald is found in northern Eurasia.
Source: British Dragonfly Society Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Dusk Dragonfly - Antipodochlora braueri
The dusk dragonfly  is found in North Island, New Zealand.
Source: T.E.R:R.A.I.N Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Eastern Hawk - Austrocordulia refracta
The eastern hawk is found in Australia.
Source: Atlas of Living Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ebony Boghaunter - Williamsonia fletcheri
The ebony boghaunter is found in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada, It is found in New Hampshire in the Spring.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ebony Boghaunter - Williamsonia fletcheri
The ebony boghaunter is around 1.1 to 1.4 inches in length.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ebony Boghaunter - Williamsonia fletcheri
The ebony boghaunter is found in bogs and swampy wetlands.
Source: Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Fat-bellied Emerald - Hemicordulia continentalis
The fat-bellied emerald is found in Australia.
Source: British Dragonfly Society Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Fine-lined Emerald - Somatochlora filosa
The fine-lined emerald is found in the eastern U.S. from New Jersey south to Florida and west to Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Indiana.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Florida Baskettail - Epitheca stella
The Florida baskettail is found in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Forest Mosquitohawk - Micromidia atrifrons
The forest mosquitohawk is found in Australia  from northeastern New South Wales and eastern Queensland.
Source: Atlas of Living Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Forcipate Emerald - Somatochlora forcipata
The forcipate emerald is found across Canada south into Michigan, Minnesota, and West Virginia. In New England, it is found in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It is rare in New Hampshire.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Forcipate Emerald - Somatochlora forcipata
The forcipate emerald is found near pools in bogs and small forested streams.
Source: Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hine's Emerald - Somatochlora hineana
Hine's emerald is found in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hine's Emerald - Somatochlora hineana
Hine's emerald is threatened by habitat destruction.
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hine's Emerald - Somatochlora hineana
Hine's emerald is  about 2.5 inches in length.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hudsonian Emerald - Somatochlora hudsonica
The Hudsonian emerald is found in Canada in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon. In the U.S. it is found in Alaska, Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Incurvate Emerald - Somatochlora incurvata
The incurvate emerald is found in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Québec provinces in Canada and in Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in the U.S. It is rare in New Hampshire.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Incurvate Emerald - Somatochlora incurvata
The incurvate emerald is found in bog pools and open wet sedge meadows.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Kennedy's Emerald - Somatochlora kennedyi  
Kennedy's emerald is found in from the Canadian Maritime provinces west to Manitoba and the Northwest Territories and south to Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. It is rare in New Hampshire.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Kennedy's Emerald - Somatochlora kennedyi  
Kennedy's emerald is found in slow-moving streams, red maple swamps, and marshes and bogs.
Source: Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Kennedy's Emerald - Somatochlora kennedyi  
Kennedy's emerald is around 1.9 to 2.2 inches in length.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Lake Emerald - Somatochlora cingulata
The lake emerald is found in southern Canada and the northeastern United States. It is found in New Hampshire from the White Mountains north.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Lake Emerald - Somatochlora cingulata
The lake emerald is 2.2 to 2.7 inches in length.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mahogany Presba - Syncordulia venator
The mahogany presba is found in South Africa.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mocha Emerald - Somatochlora linearis
The mocha emerald is found in the eastern U.S. from New Hampshire south to Florida and west to Michigan, Iowa and Texas. It is found in southeastern New Hampshire, but it is restricted to large rivers.
Source: Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mocha Emerald - Somatochlora linearis
The mocha emerald is found in permanent and temporary forest streams
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mocha Emerald - Somatochlora linearis
The mocha emerald is around 2.2-2.7 inches in length.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mountain Emerald - Somatochlora semicircularis
The mountain emerald is found in the northwestern U.S.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mountain Emerald - Somatochlora semicircularis
The mountain emerald is found near marshy bogs and ponds.
Source: Digital Atlas of Idaho Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Muskeg Emerald - Somatochlora septentrionalis
The Muskeg emerald is found in Canada.
Source: Dragonflies of British Columbia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Northern Emerald - Somatochlora arctica
The northern emerald is found in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Poland, Scotland and Ireland.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ocellated Emerald - Somatochlora minor
The ocellated emerald is found throughout Canada and the northern United States. It is found in New Hampshire from the White Mountains north.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ocellated Emerald - Somatochlora minor
The ocellated emerald is usually found at clear, slow flowing forest streams.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Orange-spotted Emerald - Oxygastra curtisii
The orange-spotted emerald is found in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Orange-spotted Emerald - Oxygastra curtisii
The orange-spotted emerald is found near muddy, slow-flowing rivers and streams.
Source: British Dragonfly Society Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ozark Emerald - Somatochlora ozarkensis
The Ozark emerald is found in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
Source: Missouri Department of Conservation Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Petite Emerald -Dorocordulia lepida
The petite emerald is found in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. It is found across New Hampshire.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Pilbara Emerald - Hemicordulia koomina
The Pilbara emerald is found in Western Australia.
Source: Atlas of Living Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Plains Emerald - Somatochlora ensigera
The plains emerald is found in the northern Great Plains states.
Source: BugGuice Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Plains Emerald - Somatochlora ensigera
The plains emerald is around 2 inches in length.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Plains Emerald - Somatochlora ensigera
The plains emerald is usually found near small, clear, sandy, flowing streams.
Source: Nebraska Dragonflies and Damselflies Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Plains Emerald - Somatochlora ensigera
The plains emerald has a yellow face.
Source: Montana Field Guide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Prince Baskettail - Epitheca princeps 
The prince baskettail is found in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. It is found across New Hampshire.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Prince Baskettail - Epitheca princeps 
The Prince baskettail is found near lakes, ponds, slow-moving streams, and rivers.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Quebec Emerald - Somatochlora brevicincta
The Quebec emerald is found in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Québec, Canada and in the northern U.S. bordering Canada. It is found in Maine.
Source: Odonata Central Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Queensland Swiftwing - Lathrocordulia garrisoni
The Queensland swiftwing is found in Australia.
Source: Atlas of Living Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Racket-tailed Emerald - Dorocordulia libera
The racket-tailed emerald is found in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. It is found across New Hampshire.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Racket-tailed Emerald - Dorocordulia libera
The racket-tailed emerald is found near ponds, lake coves, bogs, and bog-edged slow streams.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ringed Emerald -  Somatochlora albicincta
The ringed emerald is found in southern Canada and the northern U.S. In New Hampshire, it is found from the White Mountains north, but it is rare.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ringed Emerald -  Somatochlora albicincta
The ringed emerald is found near lakes, ponds and sometimes rivers.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ringed Boghaunter - Williamsonia lintneri
The ringed boghaunter is found from Maine south to New Jersey. It is also found in Wisconsin and Michigan. It is found in southeastern New Hampshire in the spring, but it is rare.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ringed Boghaunter - Williamsonia lintneri
The ringed boghaunter is found in acidic sedge fens and sphagnum bogs.
Source: Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ringed Boghaunter - Williamsonia lintneri
The ringed boghaunter is around 1.5 inches in length.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ringed Boghaunter - Williamsonia lintneri
Breeding locations in New Hampshire for the ringed boghaunter are recorded for only four towns, Durham, Kingston, Amherst, and Litchfield.
Source: UNH Cooperative Extension Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Robust Baskettail - Epitheca spinosa
The robust baskettail is found in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Robust Baskettail - Epitheca spinosa
The robust baskettail is around 1.7 inches in length.
Source: Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Sely's Sundragon - Helocordulia selysii
Sely's sundragon is found in the southeastern U.S.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Sepia Baskettail - Epitheca sepia
The sepia baskettail is found in the southeastern U.S.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ski-tailed Emerald - Somatochlora elongata  
The ski-tailed emerald is found from the Canadian Maritime Provinces west to Ontario, Canada and south to Minnesota, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. It is found in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina and Georgia. In New England, it is found in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. It is found across New Hampshire.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ski-tailed Emerald - Somatochlora elongata  
The ski-tailed emerald is also known as the ski-tipped emerald.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ski-tailed Emerald - Somatochlora elongata  
In New England, the ski-tailed emerald is in flight in July and August.
Source: Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Smoky Shadowdragon - Neurocordulia molesta
The smoky shadowdragon is found in the southeastern U.S.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Spiny Baskettail - Epitheca spinigera
The spiny baskettail is found in the northern U.S. and southern Canada. It is found in New Hampshire in the Spring.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Spiny Baskettail - Epitheca spinigera
The spiny baskettail is found near ponds, slow streams, and marshy lakes and seems to like slow moving acidic water.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Stygian Shadowdragon - Neurocordulia yamaskanensis
The stygian shadowdragon is found in the eastern United States. It is found in New Hampshire, but it is restricted to large rivers.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Stygian Shadowdragon - Neurocordulia yamaskanensis
The stygian shadowdragon is found near clear lakes and large rivers.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Sydney Hawk - Austrocordulia leonardi
The  Sydney hawk is found in Australia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Tau Emerald- Hemicordulia tau
The Tau emerald is found in Australia.
Source: Atlas of Living Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Texas Emerald - Somatochlora margarita
The Texas emerald is also known as the Big Thicket emerald dragonfly. It is found in Louisiana and Texas.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Treeline Emerald - Somatochlora sahlbergi
The treeline emerald is found at or near the arctic treeline in Alaska, Canada, Finland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden.
Source: Alaska Department of Fish and Game Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Treetop Emerald - Somatochlora provocans
The treetop emerald is found from New Jersey south to Florida and west to Missouri and Louisiana.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Uhler's Sundragon - Helocordulia uhleri
Uhler's Sundragon is found in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. It is found across New Hampshire in the late Spring.
Source: Odonata Central Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Uhler's Sundragon - Helocordulia uhleri
Uhler's Sundragon is found near small forest streams and sometimes near lakes.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Umber Shadowdragon - Neurocordulia obsoleta
The Umber shadowdragon is found in the eastern U.S. It is found in New Hampshire, but it is restricted to large rivers.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Umber Shadowdragon - Neurocordulia obsoleta
The Umber shadowdragon is found near lakes and rivers.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Western Swamp Emerald - Procordulia affinis
The western swamp emerald is found in Western Australia.
Source: Atlas of Living Australia Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Whitehouse's Emerald - Somatochlora whitehousei 
Whitehouse's emerald  is found in Canada, Washington, and Montana.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Whitehouse's Emerald - Somatochlora whitehousei 
Whitehouse's emerald  is near small to moderate-sized ponds and bogs with lots of vegetation.
Source: The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Williamson's Emerald - Somatochlora williamsoni
Williamson's emerald is found in the northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada. It is found across New Hampshire.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Williamson's Emerald - Somatochlora williamsoni
Williamson's emerald is 2.0 to 2.3 inches in length.
Source: Wisconsin Odonata Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Yellow Presba - Syncordulia gracilis
The  yellow presba is found in South Africa.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School