# Hudsonian Emerald (*somatochlora hudsonica*) The Hudsonian Emerald is a stunning dragonfly with bright green and golden colors! It flits around wetlands, adding a touch of magic to the air as it hunts for tiny insects. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Habitat:** Freshwater wetlands, lakes, and ponds. - **Also known as:** Emerald Dragonfly, Hudsonian Emerald Dragonfly ![Hudsonian Emerald](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Somatochlora_hudsonica_5866696.jpg&width=800) Photo: Doug Macaulay, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Somatochlora_hudsonica_5866696.jpg) ## Appearance The Hudsonian Emerald has striking emerald-green eyes that meet in the middle and a dark, metallic green body that can appear bronze in certain light. Its wings are clear, sometimes with a faint brownish tinge near the base, and its abdomen is slender, marked with subtle yellow spots. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Corduliidae - **Genus:** Somatochlora ## Interesting facts - Dragonflies catch prey mid-air with their legs, often eating it while still flying without landing! - Its larva lives underwater for up to three years before transforming into a flying adult! - The 'emerald' in their name refers to their dazzling green eyes, not just their body color! - Underwater, young emeralds breathe through gills located inside their rectum, often expelling water for propulsion! ## Special abilities - **Aerial Acrobat:** Hudsonian Emeralds can hover, fly backward, and change direction instantly because of their two pairs of powerful, independently moving wings. - **Sharp-Eyed Hunter:** Hudsonian Emeralds have massive compound eyes that give them nearly 360-degree vision, helping them spot tiny prey in mid-flight. - **Insect Net Legs:** Hudsonian Emeralds have spiky legs that form a basket to scoop flying insects right out of the air while hunting. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 60-80 mm - **Size:** 45-55 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Flight Speed:** 30 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding A fierce hunter, it snacks on small flying insects from mosquitoes to midges! - **Age differences:** Larvae are aquatic predators, eating tiny invertebrates; adults hunt flying insects in the air. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, midges, gnats, flies, mayflies - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) — Fish eat larval Hudsonian Emeralds living underwater. - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Adult emeralds are important predators of mosquitoes. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-kingbird) (*Tyrannus tyrannus*) — Birds like kingbirds snatch adult dragonflies from the air. ## Traits - [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. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## 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 Hudsonian 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 Hudsonian Emerald's wingspan? 60-80 mm ### How big is Hudsonian Emerald? 45-55 mm ### How long does Hudsonian Emerald live? 30-90 days ### How fast can Hudsonian Emerald fly? 30 km/h ### What does Hudsonian Emerald eat? A fierce hunter, it snacks on small flying insects from mosquitoes to midges! ### Where is Hudsonian Emerald usually found? Freshwater wetlands, lakes, and ponds. ### How does Hudsonian Emerald hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Pennask Creek Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pennask-creek-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park ## 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: [Hudsonian Emerald: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hudsonian-emerald)