Somatochlora filosa female |
While this family includes the emeralds and several other genera, the only members found in our area are the baskettails. Several emeralds are found just east of us, and I've included an image of a Fine-lined Emerald (Somatochlora filosa) to give an example of this group. It was photographed in the Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia.
Epitheca species immature male |
The baskettails, genus Epitheca, get their name from the way the female carries her egg mass on the end of her abdomen. In a highly unusual method of ovipositing for a dragonfly, the female drops the mass into the water, where it unravels into a string several inches long. I have only seen one baskettail, and it was a newly emerged male. As evident in the photo, the young insect was still holding its wings in the upright position that is common while they are not fully dry and stiffened.
Baskettails can be distinguished from other similar dragonflies by their brown color, yellow patch on the side of the thorax, and yellow dashes down the sides of the abdomen. The thorax is rather hairy and there are small white marks at the base of the hind wings, but this is only visible from certain angles. With no dark wing markings, this individual is impossible to identify to species, as we have several possibilities in the area.
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