American Emerald
ExploreInsects
American Emerald
cordulia shurtleffii
The American Emerald is a beautiful dragonfly with shiny green and blue colors! It zooms around ponds and streams, catching other insects for lunch.
Habitat: Freshwater ponds, lakes, and streams.
Appearance
The American Emerald has a metallic emerald-green body and brilliant green eyes, making it quite striking. Its dark thorax and abdomen contrast with its clear, membranous wings, often with a subtle amber tint at the base. This gives it a distinctive jewel-like appearance.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyCorduliidaeGenusCordulia
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Adult dragonflies can hover perfectly still in the air, like tiny helicopters!
Baby American Emeralds, called nymphs, live underwater for years!
Its massive eyes take up most of an American Emerald's head!
Their spiky legs form a basket to scoop flying insects from the air!
Special abilities
Ability
All-Seeing Eyes
American Emerald has massive compound eyes that help them see almost 360 degrees for hunting and defense.
Ability
Underwater Hunter
American Emerald nymphs breathe underwater with gills, using an extendable jaw to ambush aquatic prey.
Ability
Super Speedster
American Emerald can fly incredibly fast and turn sharply, helping them chase prey and escape from danger.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 70-85 mm
- Size
- 45-55 mm
- Lifespan
- 21-42 days
- Flight Speed
- 48 km/h
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
A fierce insectivore, it preys on many smaller flying insects, keeping their numbers in check.
Age differences: Nymphs eat aquatic insects like mosquito larvae; adults hunt flying insects.
Primary Foods
- mosquitoes
- gnats
- midges
- smaller flies
- butterflies
Foraging Method
- Pursuit
Ecological connections
eaten by
American Bullfrog
Rana catesbeiana
Bullfrogs often prey on dragonfly nymphs living in water.
eaten by
Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
Fish like yellow perch commonly eat American Emerald nymphs.
hunts
Yellow Fever Mosquito
Aedes aegypti
Adult American Emeralds hunt and eat adult mosquitoes.
eaten by
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Barn Swallows, swift birds, may catch adult dragonflies in flight.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Also known as
Shiny Dragonfly
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is American Emerald's wingspan?
70-85 mm
How big is American Emerald?
45-55 mm
How long does American Emerald live?
21-42 days
How fast can American Emerald fly?
48 km/h
What does American Emerald eat?
A fierce insectivore, it preys on many smaller flying insects, keeping their numbers in check.
Where is American Emerald usually found?
Freshwater ponds, lakes, and streams.
How does American Emerald hunt?
Pursuit
How many legs does American Emerald have?
6
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
.jpg&width=800)
