Map Snapshot
11 Records
Status
Stygian Shadowdragon (Neurocordulia yamaskanensis) is a member of an often frustrating genus of emeralds, well-known for their crepuscular activity and elusiveness. Due to their unusual diel activity pattern, adult shadowdragons are generally dragonflies for which a specific effort is required to see them in nature. They can be abundant at times, but usually spend the daylight hours perched high in trees. They have a period of great activity from sunset to twilight, when the true propulation can be more adequately appreciated. Exuviae surveys are often the best way to determine their presence and population level (B. Coulter, pers. obs.) Stygian Shadowdragon prefers large rivers with areas of shallow water without aquatic vegetation (Paulson, 2011). In Maryland, this dragonfly is known mostly from large rivers like the Potomac, where it is common. There are also a few records from the Susquehanna R., and one from Sideling Hill Creek, where it is uncommon (Richard Orr's The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Maryland and the District of Columbia). This species is on the watch list (S3) for Maryland.
Seasonality Snapshot
Source: Wikipedia
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2019) |
| Neurocordulia yamaskanensis | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Family: | Corduliidae |
| Genus: | Neurocordulia |
| Species: | N. yamaskanensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Neurocordulia yamaskanensis (Provancher, 1875)
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Neurocordulia yamaskanensis, the Stygian shadowdragon,[1] is a dragonfly found in the eastern United States and southern Canada.[3] It was discovered in Quebec in 1875 by naturalist Léon Abel Provancher.[4]
Like other dragonflies of the genus Neurocordulia, this species has the unusual characteristic of being crepuscular in habit, meaning that they are only active for a short period of time during dawn and at dusk.[5] This limited activity period means that this species and other members of the genus are rarely seen by the casual observer. They may occasionally fly during very overcast days, but usually spend their days roosting in treetops and bushes near the shoreline of the streams, rivers and lakes which they patrol during their active hours.
The Stygian shadowdragon's range includes much of the mid-Atlantic US states and extends northward into southern Canada and south to the Mason–Dixon line.[2] It is one of the larger members of the shadowdragon genus, at about 2 inches long. Their fairly clear wings have a large brown spot at the bases, which can help differentiate them from other shadowdragons.
Because of its short activity period, less is known about its life cycle than many other dragonflies. The nymphs probably live in the stream beds which this species inhabits for a year or more before they crawl out onto rocks or trees along the stream or river where the adults emerge from their exoskeletons and take flight.[4] This species is seen mostly during the month of June throughout its range.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Paulson, D.R. (2017). "Neurocordulia yamaskanensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T50978767A65836289. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T50978767A65836289.en. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- ^ a b "Neurocordulia yamaskanensis". explorer.natureserve.org. NatureServe. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Neurocordulia yamaskanensis (Provancher, 1875) Stygian Shadowdragon". wiatri.net. Wisconsin Odonata Survey. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
- ^ a b Mochon, Alain; Savard, Michel (January 2018). "Sur les traces de l'épithèque de Provancher au mont Yamaska (Odonata : Corduliidae : Neurocordulia yamaskanensis)". Le Naturaliste Canadien. 142 (3): 10–21. doi:10.7202/1050994ar. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
- ^ Byers, C. Francis (June 30, 1937). A REVIEW OF THE DRAGONFLIES OF THE GENERA NEUROCORDULIA AND PLATYCORDULIA (PDF). University of Michigan.
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