Clamp-tipped Emerald Somatochlora tenebrosa (Say, 1839)    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Odonata   >   Family Corduliidae   >   Genus Somatochlora   

Status:

Clamp-tipped Emerald (Somatochlora tenebrosa) is a widespread and familiar Somatochlora in much of the east. It is named for the extremely peculiar, clamp-shaped cerci and epiproct of the male. This dragonfly breeds in small, shaded forest streams (Paulson, 2011). In Maryland, the species is widespread, and is probably the most common species of its genus in the state (Richard Orr's The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Maryland and the District of Columbia).

There are 91 records in the project database.

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A female Clamp-tipped Emerald in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/20/2013). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A female Clamp-tipped Emerald in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/19/2015). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Clamp-tipped Emerald in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/20/2013). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Clamp-tipped Emerald in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/8/2007). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A female Clamp-tipped Emerald in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/20/2013). Note the eggs. Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Clamp-tipped Emerald in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/27/2010). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

A Clamp-tipped Emerald in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/29/2019). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Clamp-tipped Emerald in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/29/2019). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

Clamp-tipped Emerald in Harford Co., Maryland (7/29/2020). (c) Rick Cheicante, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Rick Cheicante. (MBP list)

A male Clamp-tipped Emerald in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/20/2008). I caught this dragonfly for identification purposes then placed him in a natural position so photos could be taken. You can tell he was caught and placed by his wings being up-turned and not laying flat like they would be naturally. This is an easy way to tell if a dragonfly photograph was truly in situ. Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Clamp-tipped Emerald in Harford Co., Maryland (7/29/2020). (c) Rick Cheicante, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Rick Cheicante. (MBP list)

Clamp-tipped Emerald in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Clamp-tipped Emerald in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Clamp-tipped Emerald in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Clamp-tipped Emerald in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Clamp-tipped Emerald in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Clamp-tipped Emerald in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Clamp-tipped Emerald in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/22/2017). (c) dossification, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by dossification via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Clamp-tipped Emerald in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/1/2006). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Clamp-tipped Emerald in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Clamp-tipped Emerald in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Clamp-tipped Emeralds in Garrett Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Clamp-tipped Emerald in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/1/2022). (c) Jason E. Avery, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jason Avery. (MBP list)


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