CLAMP-TIPPED EMERALd & Mocha Emerald
This is a male Clamp-tipped Emerald, named for the distinctive clamp-shaped claspers at the end of its abdomen.
This is a female Clamp-tipped Emerald, photographed on July 3, 2020 at Siebenthaler Fen.
Female Clamp-tipped Emeralds often have mud-stained abdomens, from depositing their eggs in muddy surfaces. The individual at left was photographed on October 7, 2017, at Spring Lakes Park in Bellbrook. That was an unusually late date for this species. Clamp-tipped Emeralds are more common in July and August.
Mocha Emeralds are usually found along small creeks in shaded areas. They are probably more common than our records indicate, because Mochas are very difficult to find perched. They like to perch in shady spots among tree branches, where their dark brown coloration makes them almost impossible to see. I was very lucky to find this teneral female. She fluttered right past my face and stayed perched for a long time. Photographed June 30, 2019, at Siebenthaler Fen.
This dragonfly is a female Mocha Emerald. She is very teneral (newly emerged). Mocha Emeralds have long, thin abdomens with small yellow dots. These dots might be faded in older individuals. Clamp-tipped Emeralds do not have these small yellow dots. Also, note that this Mocha Emerald has no visible stripes on the side of her thorax, unlike the Clamp-tipped Emeralds above.
Female Clamp-tipped Emeralds are very similar to Mocha Emeralds (further below on this page). However, Clamp-tipped Emeralds have two yellow stripes on the sides of the thorax. You can see a close-up of these stripes at left. (A Mocha Emerald would not have stripes on the thorax.)
This female Clamp-tipped Emerald was photographed at Beavercreek Wildlife Area. There is a good population of Clamp-tipped Emeralds at BWA, but it is very difficult to find them perched.
Clamp-tipped Emeralds patrol shady forest streams. They sometimes venture into nearby fields or open fens to feed. This male was photographed at Cedar Bog, near Urbana.