Montana Field Guide

A conspicuously marked species, easily known by its almost entirely yellow face, the peculiar shape of the anal appendages of the male, and the very short anal appendages of the female, together with a long projecting vulvar lamina (Walker and Corbett, 1975). Length 48-51 mm.; abdomen 35-38; hind wing 33-35. An inland species of medium size and well-defined markings. Orange labrum with black front border and median basal spot. Frons has a broad cap of metallic blue green; its side spots of yellow narrow forward to meet or nearly meet on middle line in front. Occiput shining brown. Thorax scantily hairy. Side stripes of thorax and of abdominal segment 2 bright yellow, bordered by black. Thorax dark reddish brown in front, with yellow carina; it becomes bluish toward crest and between yellow stripes on sides. Wings hyaline, touched with amber yellow at extreme base. Costa ochre yellow; stigma blackish; veins brown. Abdomen brown, much swollen on segment 2; two large antero-lateral spots, in male a smaller postero-lateral spot runs down and half covers genital lobe. Of two usual elongate lateral triangles on segment 3, lower one is much longer. Remainder of abdomen and caudal appendages black. This species nearly like linearis but smaller and more brightly marked with yellow. Caudal appendages of male more slender and more nearly parallel in their apical third. Ovipositor of female longer, straighter, more slender (Needham and Westfall, 1955).

The Plains Emerald prefers habitats of streams, small rivers,and ditches with pools and riffles in open areas (Dunkle 2000, Paulson 2009).

Larvae feed on a wide variety of aquatic insects, such as mosquito larvae, other aquatic fly larvae, mayfly larvae, and freshwater shrimp. They will also eat very small fish and tadpoles.
Adult- The dragonfly will eat almost any soft-bodied flying insect including mosquitoes, flies, small moths, mayflies, and flying ants or termites.

Male Plains Emeralds are territorial and patrol up and down streams slowly with periodic hovering. Females oviposit into muddy or gravelly shores above the waterline or directly into the water (Dunkle 2000, Paulson 2009).