# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Freshwater ponds, lakes, and streams. - **Also known as:** Shiny Dragonfly ![American Emerald](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cordulia_shurtleffii.jpg&width=800) Photo: US Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cordulia_shurtleffii.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Corduliidae - **Genus:** Cordulia ## 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 - **All-Seeing Eyes:** American Emerald has massive compound eyes that help them see almost 360 degrees for hunting and defense. - **Underwater Hunter:** American Emerald nymphs breathe underwater with gills, using an extendable jaw to ambush aquatic prey. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bullfrog) (*Rana catesbeiana*) — Bullfrogs often prey on dragonfly nymphs living in water. - **Eaten by:** [Yellow Perch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-perch) (*Perca flavescens*) — Fish like yellow perch commonly eat American Emerald nymphs. - **Hunts:** [Yellow Fever Mosquito](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-fever-mosquito) (*Aedes aegypti*) — Adult American Emeralds hunt and eat adult mosquitoes. - **Eaten by:** [Barn Swallow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barn-swallow) (*Hirundo rustica*) — Barn Swallows, swift birds, may catch adult dragonflies in flight. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American Emerald? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Grundy Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grundy-lake-provincial-park) — Ontario, CA · State Park - [Battle of Camp Allegheny](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/battle-of-camp-allegheny) — West Virginia, US · Historic Site - [Tobin Harbor Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tobin-harbor-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Lower Madawaska River Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lower-madawaska-river-provincial-park) — Ontario, CA · State Park [View all places to see American Emerald](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-emerald) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [American Emerald: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-emerald)