Downy Emerald

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Downy emerald
Image:Cordulia.aenea.jpg Cordulia aenea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Odonata Suborder: Anisoptera Family: Corduliidae Genus: Cordulia Species: C. aenea
Binomial name
Cordulia aenea (Linnaeus, 1758)

The downy emerald (Cordulia aenea) is a species of dragonfly. It is metallic green and bronze in color, and its thorax is coated with fine hairs, hence its name. Like most other emeralds, the downy emerald has bright shiny green eyes. Adults are around 5 cm in length, and are in flight from May through July each year.

This species lives in woodlands near lakes and ponds; like other dragonflies, it lays eggs in water and its larvae are aquatic. It is distributed throughout most of Europe. Although it has been eliminated from some of its historic native area in Great Britain due to habitat loss, dense populations of the downy emerald can still be found there in spots where its ideal habitat remains.

After the downy emerald young emerge from their eggs, they live for three years at various larval and nymphal stages. They are fully grown adults for only two months, during which time they mate and the females deposit their eggs back into the water.

Wikipedia information about Downy Emerald This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Downy Emerald". It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer). Help contribute to Americola and edit this article.