Dragonfly (specifically a member of the Emerald family)
Scientific Name: Somatochlora (genus species varies, often Somatochlora metallica or similar)
Order & Family: Order: Odonata, Family: Corduliidae
Size: 35 mm to 65 mm in length depending on the specific species.
Natural Habitat
Near freshwater bodies such as ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow-moving streams where larvae can develop.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; adults hunt small flying insects like mosquitoes and flies in mid-air, while larvae (nymphs) eat aquatic invertebrates.
Behavior Patterns
Expert fliers capable of hovering and flying backward. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis with an aquatic larval stage that can last several years before emerging as adults.
Risks & Benefits
Highly beneficial to humans as they act as natural pest control by consuming large quantities of mosquitoes; they do not sting and generally do not bite humans unless handled.
Identified on: 4/27/2026