[Odonata-l] Quebec Emerald found in Minnesota

[Wayne Steffens]

Update: Several days after collecting the adult, I returned and explored 
the surrounding area because the habitat really didn't look all that 
great for S. brevicincta. In a beautiful poor fen about 1/2 mile away, I 
collected one (maybe 2) exuvia(e) of S. brevicincta. So they are indeed 
breeding here in Minnesota.


Wayne Steffens


June Tveekrem wrote:
> The Quebec Emerald, Somatochlora brevicincta, has been found in 
> northeastern Minnesota. From what I've been able to ascertain, this 
> is the first record from the north central US or central Canada.
> 
> This species is known from eastern Canada (Quebec, New Brunswick, 
> Nova Scotia, Newfoundland), northern Maine, and a western population 
> in British Columbia.
> 
> In July 2005, a male brevicincta was sighted by Kurt Mead and June 
> Tveekrem. Kurt netted it and June took detailed photos, but due to 
> an identification error the specimen was not kept.
> 
> In March 2006, several experts were able to identify it from the photos.
> 
> In July 2006 a voucher specimen was collected by Wayne Steffans, a 
> member of a search party led by Kurt Mead. The specimen was found in 
> the same location as the year before.
> 
> Details and all the photographs are posted at
> http://www.toadmail.com/~minnodon/brevicincta/
> 
> 
> Finding the species two years in a row suggests to Kurt and me that 
> the first individual was not a wandering vagrant. However, we do not 
> know whether there is a breeding population or whether they are 
> migrants.
> 
>