Ocellated Emerald

Somatochlora minor

General Status Rank: 
Sensitive
ELCODE: 
IIODO32170
Common Name: 
Ocellated Emerald
Scientific Name: 
Somatochlora minor
Naming References: 
HMW1
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Odonate (Dragonfly)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Arthropoda
Class: 
Insecta
Order: 
Odonata
Family: 
Corduliidae
References: 
HMW1
Habitat
The river is moving fast here; it is up to 1 m deep with riffles, small rapids, and has a rocky to gravelly bottom. Males patrolled the edges of the river within 3 dm of the water. The river shore had emergent vegetation and alder shrubs. The dragonflies did not venture out onto the open stream and remained within 1 m of the shore.
References: 
RSC12
Distribution

Ecozones

Boreal Plains
References: 
RSC12

Distribution

Unknown; probably less than 0.5% based on only 2 known locations. Also reported from the five slow moving streams in the southern valleys of the Yukon.
Score: 
AE
References: 
RSC12

Number of Occurrences

3: Seven individuals were seen and 2 males were collected (Canadian National Collection) on the Little Buffalo River at the Highway 1 bridge (60.0482° N, -112.7717° W, 24 July 2003, P.M. Catling and D. Johnson). The river was moving fast here, is up to 1 m deep with riffles, small rapids, and has a rocky to gravelly bottom. Males patrolled the edges of the river within 3 dm of the water. One additional individual was seen at Little Buffalo Falls (60.0482° N, -112.7015° W, 24 July 2003, P.M. Catling and D. Johnson, not collected). Ophiogophus colubrinus was also present at both sites.
Score: 
A
References: 
RSC12
DD3

Historical Distribution

This species has been reported from the five slow moving streams in the southern valleys of the Yukon (Cannings and Cannings 1997), and was thus expected in NWT. The most accurate map is probably that of Cannings and Canning (1997, p. 190). In Alberta it occurs north at least to Nordegg (Walker & Corbet 1975). The relatively short abdomen and two yellow spots on the side of the thorax are distinctive.
References: 
RSC12
BSC8

Area of Occupancy

Score: 
-
Threats

Threats

Score: 
C

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Score: 
-
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Sensitive
Status Rank Description: 
Also reported from the five slow moving streams in the southern valleys of the Yukon; no major threats but very few known sites (rare).
S Rank: 
S2S3
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by P. Catling in 2006. Reviewed in 2010, no change. Reviewed in 2015, no change. Reviewed in 2020, no change.
Last Updated: 
November 25, 2023

References

Ecozones

  • Catling, Paul, S Carriere, D Johnson, M. Fournier (2004) Dragonflies of the Northwest Territories, Canada: New records, Ecological obersvations and a checklist. Argia 16(1):9-13 - RSC12 Return

Habitat

  • Catling, Paul, S Carriere, D Johnson, M. Fournier (2004) Dragonflies of the Northwest Territories, Canada: New records, Ecological obersvations and a checklist. Argia 16(1):9-13 - RSC12 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Catling, Paul, S Carriere, D Johnson, M. Fournier (2004) Dragonflies of the Northwest Territories, Canada: New records, Ecological obersvations and a checklist. Argia 16(1):9-13 - RSC12 Return
  • Cannings, S.D., and Cannings,R. A. (1997) Dragonflies (Odonata) of the Yukon. Biological Survey of Canada (terrestrial Arthropods) Danks, H.V. and Downes, J. A. (Eds), Insects of the Yukon. S Carriere office (reprint) - BSC8 Return

Naming

  • Cannings, Robert A. (2001) Personal Communication. Curator of Entomology, Royal British Columbia Museum - HMW1 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Catling, Paul, S Carriere, D Johnson, M. Fournier (2004) Dragonflies of the Northwest Territories, Canada: New records, Ecological obersvations and a checklist. Argia 16(1):9-13 - RSC12 Return
  • Catling, Paul (2006) NWT Odonate database 2006 15 Odp.xls. Lat and long database of al speciment collected from 1922 to 2005 and housed at Agri-food Canada in Ottawa e-copy in folder - DD3 Return

Range Extent

  • Catling, Paul, S Carriere, D Johnson, M. Fournier (2004) Dragonflies of the Northwest Territories, Canada: New records, Ecological obersvations and a checklist. Argia 16(1):9-13 - RSC12 Return

Taxonomy

  • Cannings, Robert A. (2001) Personal Communication. Curator of Entomology, Royal British Columbia Museum - HMW1 Return