Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Corduliidae

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Dragonfly Nymphs of North America

  • 780 Accesses

Abstract

There are seven genera and 50 species of Corduliidae in North America. Nymphs of most species, especially those that inhabit shallow peatlands, are relatively difficult to find whereas a few are common inhabitants of ponds, lakes and streams. Four genera are endemic to North America: Dorocordulia, Helocordulia, Neurocordulia, and Williamsonia. Some species of the genus Somatochlora, the most species-rich genus in the family, range far to the north in Canada and Alaska. Corduliid nymphs are usually long-legged and relatively flattened, appearing similar to many Libellulidae; they can be distinguished by the presence of a shallow ventromedial groove on the prementum which libellulids lack. The frontoclypeal ridge of most corduliids is well-developed and projects as a frontal shelf, but only one species possesses a triangular frontal projection similar to that of the Macromiidae. The seven corduliid genera of North America are morphologically similar. The main characters for separating them include the ventral abdominal sternites, lateral thoracic color pattern, middorsal hooks, posterolateral spines, and the height of the distal palpal crenations. Life cycles vary from one year to at least three years.

crawling off

the edge of winter—

dragonfly nymphs

Tennessen (Reproduced with permission from Dragonfly Haiku (2016). Copyright Red Dragonfly Press.)

figure a

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 229.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbott JC (2015) Dragonflies of Texas. A field guide. University of Texas Press, Austin. 448 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Abbott JC, Mynhardt G (2007) Description of the larva of Somatochlora margarita (Odonata: Corduliidae). International Journal of Odonatology 10(2):129–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Askew RR (1988) The Dragonflies of Europe. Harley Books, England. 291 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Bechly G (2005) A new fossil dragonfly (Anisoptera: Corduliidae) from the Paleocene Fur Formation (Mo clay) of Denmark. Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde Serie B 358:1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Broughton E (1928) Some new Odonata nymphs. The Canadian Entomologist 60:32–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buidin C, Rochepault Y (2008) Habitat des larves de la libellule Somatochlora brevicincta Robert en Minganie, Québec, Canada. Le Naturiste Canadien 132(2):30–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Byers CF (1937) A review of the dragonflies of the genera Neurocordulia and Platycordulia. Miscellaneous Publications of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan 36:1–36 plus 8 plates

    Google Scholar 

  • Cabot L (1890) The immature state of the Odonata. Part III. Subfamily Cordulina. Memoirs Museum Comp Zool Harvard Coll 17(1):1–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Cannings SG, Cannings RA (1985) The larva of Somatochlora sahlbergi Trybom, with notes on the species in the Yukon Territory, Canada (Anisoptera: Corduliidae). Odonatologica 14(4):319–330

    Google Scholar 

  • Caron E, Pilon J-G (1992) Cycle biologiques de Cordulia shurtleffi Scudder dans les Basses Laurentides du Québec (Anisoptera: Corduliidae). Odonatologica 21:481–488

    Google Scholar 

  • Cashatt ED, Vogt TE (2001) Description of the larva of Somatochlora hineana with a key to the larvae of the North American species of Somatochlora (Odonata: Corduliidae). International Journal of Odonatology 4(2):93–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charlton RE, Cannings RA (1993) The larva of Williamsonia fletcheri Williamson (Anisoptera: Corduliidae). Odonatologica 22(3):335–343

    Google Scholar 

  • Corbet PS, Suhling F, Soendgerath D (2005) Voltinism of Odonata: a review. International Journal of Odonatology 91(1):1–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donnelly TW (1992) Taxonomic problems (?) with Tetragoneuria. Argia 4(1):11–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Donnelly TW (2003) Problems with Tetragoneuria? Argia 14(4):10–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Donnelly TW (2004) Distribution of north American Odonata. Part II: Macromiidae, Corduliidae and Libellulidae. Bulletin of American Odonatology 8(1):1–32

    Google Scholar 

  • DuBois RB, Tennessen KJ, Berg MS (2007) Efficacy of morphological characters for distinguishing nymphs of Epitheca cynosura and Epitheca spinigera (Odonata: Corduliidae) in Wisconsin. The Great Lakes Entomologist 40(3/4):129–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunkle SW (1977) The larva of Somatochlora filosa (Odonata: Corduliidae). Fla Entomol 60(3):187–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunkle SW (1980) Second larval instars of Florida Anisoptera (Odonata). PhD Dissertation, University of Florida, Gainesville. 123 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Garman P (1927) The Odonata or dragonflies of Connecticut. Connecticut Geology and Natural History Survey Bulletin 39:1–331

    Google Scholar 

  • Huggins DG (1983) The nymph of Somatochlora ensigera (Odonata: Corduliidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 56(3):415–419

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy CH (1924) Notes and descriptions of naiads belonging to the dragonfly genus Helocordulia. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 64(12):1–4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kormondy EJ (1959) The systematics of Tetragoneuria, based on ecological, life history, and morphological evidence (Odonata: Corduliidae). Miscellaneous Publications of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan 107:1–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Louton JA (1982) Lotic dragonfly (Anisoptera: Odonata) nymphs of the southeastern United States: identification, distribution and historical biogeography. PhD dissertation, University of Tennessee. 356 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Lutz PE, Jenner CE (1964) Life-history and photoperiodic responses of nymphs of Tetragoneuria cynosura (Say). Biological Bulletin 127(2):304–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • May ML (1995) The subgenus Tetragoneuria (Anisoptera: Corduliidae: Epitheca) in New Jersey. Bulletin of American Odonatology 2(4):63–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Needham JG (1901) Aquatic Insects in the Adirondacks. New York Stae Museum Bulletin 47:383–612

    Google Scholar 

  • Needham JG, Westfall MJ Jr (1955) A manual of the Dragonflies of North America (Anisoptera). University of California Press, Berkeley. 615 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Needham JG, Westfall MJ Jr, May ML (2000) Dragonflies of North America, rev edn. Scientific Publishers, Gainesville. 939 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Needham JG, Westfall MJ Jr, May ML (2014) Dragonflies of North America. The Odonata (Anisoptera) fauna of Canada, the continental United States, Northern Mexico and the Greater Antilles, 3rd edn. Scientific Publishers, Gainesville, FL. 657 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Okudaira M, Sugimura M, Ishida S, Kojima K (2001) Dragonflies of the Japanese Archipelago in Color. Hokkaida University Press, Sapporo. 641 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Schorr M, Paulson D (2018) World Odonata List. https://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/biodiversity-resources/dragonflies/world-odonata-list2/ Accessed 25 May 2018

  • Soluk DA, Swisher BJ, Zercher DS, Miller JD, Hults AB (1998) The ecology of Hine’s emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana): monitoring populations and determining patterns of habitat use. Activity summary and report of findings (September 1996–August 1997). Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, IL. 111 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Steffens WP, Smith WA (2006) Description of the larva of Somatochlora incurvata (Odonata: Corduliidae). Odonatologica 35(4):379–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Tennessen KJ (1975) Description of the nymph of Somatochlora provocans Calvert (Odonata: Corduliidae). The Florida Entomologist 58(2):105–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tennessen KJ (1977) Rediscovery of Epitheca costalis (Odonata: Corduliidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 70:267–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Theischinger G, Fleck G (2003) A new character useful for taxonomy and phylogeny of Anisoptera (Odonata). Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France 108(4):409–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Valle KJ (1931) Materialien zur Odonatenfauna Finnlands. II. Somatochlora sahlbergi Trybom. Notulae Entomologicae 11:41–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker EM (1925) The North American dragonflies of the genus Somatochlora. University of Toronto Studies, Biology Series 26:1–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker EM (1966) On the generic status of Tetragoneuria and Epicordulia (Odonata: Corduliidae). Canadian Entomologist 98:897–902

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker EM, Corbet PS (1975) The Odonata of Canada and Alaska, vol 3. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, 307 pp

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ware JL (2008) Molecular and morphological systematics of Libelluloidea (Odonata: Anisoptera) and Dictyoptera. PhD dissertation, Rutgers University. 260 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Ware J, May ML, Kjer K (2008) Chapter 4: Phylogeny, homoplasy and divergence estimates within Libelluloidea (Anisoptera: Odonata): an exploration of the usefulness of molecular and morphological characters. (pp 108–200) in Ware JL (2008) Molecular and Morphological Systematics of Libelluloidea (Odonata: Anisoptera) and Dictyoptera. PhD Dissertation, Rutgers University.

    Google Scholar 

  • White HB, Raff RA (1970) The nymph of Williamsonia lintneri (Hagen) (Odonata: Corduliidae). Psyche 77:252–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitehouse FC (1941) British Columbia dragonflies (Odonata), with notes on distribution and habits. The American Midland Naturalist 26(3):488–557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams CE, Dunkle SW (1976) The larva of Neurocordulia xanthosoma (Odonata: Corduliidae). Florida Entomologist 59(4):429–433

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Kenneth Tennessen

    Present address: , Wautoma, WI, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Kenneth Tennessen

Authors
  1. Kenneth Tennessen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Tennessen, K. (2019). Corduliidae. In: Dragonfly Nymphs of North America. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97776-8_11

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation