The Hine's emerald dragonfly is a federally endangered species. It has a dark emerald-green thorax and two yellow stripes on its sides. Newly emerged adults have dark brown eyes, but after about three days, they become brilliant iridescent emerald green.
There are more than 20 species of striped emeralds (genus Somatochlora) in North America north of Mexico. Learn more about the Hine's emerald and other dragonflies (suborder Anisoptera) in their group entry.
Occurs in limited localities in the southeast quarter of Missouri.
Habitat and Conservation
The Hine's emerald lives in calcareous spring-fed marshes and sedge meadows overlaying dolomite bedrock. Habitat destruction and degradation due to urban and industrial development has been the greatest problem for this dragonfly species. Habitats where it can live are few and far between, making it difficult or impossible for these dragonflies to move among them. If a population is eliminated from one locality, others will not be able to repopulate it.
Status
Hine's emerald is a Missouri species of conservation concern: it is listed as endangered on both federal and state lists.
A related species, the Ozark emerald, S. ozarkensis, is also a species of conservation concern in Missouri.
