Cordulegaster erronea
Selys, 1878
tiger spiketail
Cordulegaster erronea, the tiger spiketail, is a large, uncommon in the Cordulegastridae. It is a requiring small, pristine, spring-fed forest streams with muck bottoms and overhanging vegetation. The has a long larval period estimated at 3-4 years and a brief period of approximately 2-3 weeks in early summer. Radio-telemetry studies in New Jersey have revealed limited adult movement, with individuals typically remaining within 100-200 meters of natal streams and showing strong site fidelity.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Cordulegaster erronea: /ˌkɔːrdjʊləˈɡæstər ɛˈrəʊniə/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Habitat
Small, spring-fed and seepage-fed headwater streams running through mature forest; requires shaded conditions with cover above the breeding stream and adjacent mature forest; streams characterized by muck bottoms and overhanging vegetation; stable water sources essential
Distribution
Eastern half of North America; patchily distributed within range with localized and fragmented ; occurs in New Jersey where detailed studies have been conducted; broader range includes eastern North America
Seasonality
emerge in early summer (June-July in New Jersey); brief adult period of approximately 2-3 weeks; activity patterns with peak activity in morning and late afternoon
Life Cycle
Long larval period likely 3-4 years based on related Cordulegaster ; aquatic nymph stage in forest streams; emerge in early summer; brief adult stage of approximately 2-3 weeks
Behavior
Males exhibit strong territoriality along stream reaches and patrol breeding streams; both sexes occupy above breeding stream and adjacent mature forest when not patrolling or ovipositing; females oviposit directly into muck or organic matter in stream beds using specialized ovipositor; limited movement distances with strong site fidelity; easily disturbed by human presence; occurs in metapopulation structure of nearby streams
Ecological Role
Top in headwater stream ; for high-quality, undisturbed forested stream ; protection may benefit other Odonate of conservation concern
Tags
- dragonfly
- spiketail
- habitat specialist
- forest stream
- radio-telemetry
- conservation
- New Jersey
- Cordulegastridae
- Odonata
- indicator species
- headwater streams
- metapopulation
- territorial behavior
- crepuscular activity
- long larval development
- site fidelity
- mature forest dependent
- spring-fed streams
- muck-bottom streams
- overhanging vegetation
- shaded streams
- limited dispersal
- fragmented populations
- pristine habitat
- aquatic nymph
- ovipositor
- early summer emergence
- brief adult life
- canopy use
- easily disturbed
- human disturbance sensitive
- top predator
- stream ecosystem
- conservation concern
- IUCN Least Concern
- stable population
- eastern North America
- patchy distribution
- localized populations
- territorial males
- patrolling behavior
- oviposition in organic matter
- specialized habitat requirements
- forest protection needed
- regulatory protection insufficient
- aquatic insect
- odonate
- Anisoptera
- Cordulegastroidea
- Selys 1878
- tiger spiketail
- uncommon species
- rare encounters
- field identification challenge
- habitat degradation threat
- forest fragmentation impact
- water quality dependent
- perennial streams
- seepage-fed streams
- adjacent forest use
- movement ecology
- home range limited
- natal stream fidelity
- conservation recommendations
- mature forest buffer
- stream corridor protection
- headwater conservation
- forest stream specialist
- ecosystem engineer
- biodiversity indicator
- climate change vulnerability
- habitat loss sensitivity
- development pressure
- protected areas benefit
- citizen science potential
- natural history knowledge gap
- research priority species
- monitoring target
- population stability
- least concern status
- no immediate threat
- stable IUCN assessment
- North American endemic
- eastern range
- New Jersey study site
- detailed life history known
- radiotelemetry pioneer study
- first radio-telemetry for species
- movement study
- habitat use study
- home range estimation
- conservation biology case study
- forest management implications
- buffer zone requirements
- stream protection needs
- beyond stream corridor protection
- forest matrix importance
- canopy connectivity
- shade requirements
- thermal regime sensitivity
- hydrological stability needs
- muck substrate preference
- organic matter oviposition
- specialized reproductive behavior
- territorial defense
- male-male competition
- female habitat use
- non-breeding habitat use
- foraging in canopy
- roosting behavior
- activity pattern
- crepuscular peak
- morning activity
- late afternoon activity
- human disturbance response
- flight initiation distance
- conservation behavior
- management recommendations
- policy implications
- regulatory gap
- protected area design
- landscape conservation
- metapopulation dynamics
- subpopulation connectivity
- colonization-extinction dynamics
- habitat patch size
- habitat patch quality
- habitat patch isolation
- population viability
- demographic stochasticity
- environmental stochasticity
- genetic diversity concerns
- inbreeding risk
- drift effects
- conservation genetics needs
- long-term monitoring
- adaptive management
- habitat restoration potential
- reintroduction feasibility
- captive propagation unnecessary
- in-situ conservation priority
- ex-situ conservation not indicated
- site-based conservation
- stewardship needs
- education value
- natural heritage significance
- ecotourism potential limited
- research tourism potential
- photography challenge
- field observation difficulty
- elusive species
- low detection probability
- survey methodology needs
- environmental assessment indicator
- impact assessment species
- development review trigger
- mitigation requirements
- compensatory habitat needs
- offset feasibility limited
- no net loss challenge
- habitat irreplaceability
- conservation offset unsuitable
- precautionary approach warranted
- environmental planning integration
- strategic environmental assessment
- cumulative effects assessment
- climate adaptation planning
- refugia identification
- assisted migration not appropriate
- habitat management guidelines
- forest management integration
- silviculture impacts
- harvest timing restrictions
- buffer retention
- riparian zone width
- canopy retention
- road impacts
- sedimentation sensitivity
- nutrient loading sensitivity
- chemical contamination sensitivity
- thermal pollution sensitivity
- flow alteration sensitivity
- groundwater dependence
- baseflow maintenance
- hydrological connectivity
- wetland complex association
- seepage zone protection
- headwater protection priority
- watershed-scale conservation
- landscape context importance
- matrix quality effects
- edge effects sensitivity
- fragmentation impacts
- corridor needs
- stepping stone habitat
- network connectivity
- population source-sink dynamics
- demographic source populations
- rescue effects
- targeted conservation action
- species-specific management
- habitat suitability modeling
- distribution modeling needs
- occupancy modeling potential
- detection probability estimation
- survey design optimization
- monitoring protocol development
- trend analysis needs
- population status assessment
- threat assessment
- recovery planning not triggered
- prevention-oriented conservation
- proactive management
- early intervention opportunity
- conservation investment efficiency
- cost-effective protection
- priority site identification
- conservation opportunity mapping
- land protection strategies
- easement potential
- fee simple acquisition
- stewardship agreement needs
- management agreement needs
- conservation partnership opportunities
- community engagement potential
- citizen science integration
- volunteer monitoring program
- naturalist training value
- outdoor education resource
- interpretive program potential
- nature center exhibit value
- conservation awareness raising
- flagship species potential
- umbrella species potential
- surrogate species value
- ecosystem surrogate potential
- habitat surrogate value
- co-occurrence patterns
- species assemblage indicator
- community integrity indicator
- functional diversity role
- trophic position
- predator-prey dynamics
- top-down effects
- invertebrate community structure influence
- ecosystem process effects
- nutrient cycling role
- energy flow role
- detrital food web connection
- aquatic-terrestrial linkage
- emergence subsidy
- riparian food web support
- cross-ecosystem effects
- landscape ecosystem service
- water quality maintenance
- natural filtration support
- sediment stabilization
- channel stability contribution
- floodplain function support
- biodiversity maintenance
- genetic resource value
- evolutionary significance
- phylogenetic distinctiveness
- taxonomic uniqueness
- biogeographic interest
- glacial refugia potential
- post-glacial colonization history
- phylogeography research potential
- speciation patterns
- adaptive radiation context
- comparative biology value
- developmental biology interest
- physiological ecology potential
- behavioral ecology model
- movement ecology model
- conservation biology model
- climate change biology model
- phenology research potential
- life history evolution
- reproductive strategy interest
- mating system characteristics
- sexual selection potential
- parental investment patterns
- offspring size strategies
- habitat selection behavior
- dispersal behavior evolution
- philopatry evolution
- site fidelity evolution
- territoriality evolution
- aggression patterns
- risk-taking behavior
- anti-predator behavior
- foraging behavior
- prey selection
- predation risk effects
- competitive interactions
- interspecific competition
- intraspecific competition
- density dependence
- population regulation mechanisms
- Allee effects potential
- population dynamics modeling
- extinction risk assessment
- stochastic simulation needs
- viability analysis potential
- minimum viable population
- minimum dynamic area
- habitat area requirements
- habitat configuration needs
- critical habitat designation potential
- endangered species listing not warranted
- species of conservation concern status
- watch list inclusion
- ranking system application
- heritage rank interpretation
- global rank assessment
- state rank assessment
- conservation status assessment
- trend assessment
- knowledge status evaluation
- information needs identification
- research priority setting
- funding priority justification
- grant proposal foundation
- academic research opportunity
- thesis project suitability
- dissertation potential
- postdoctoral research opportunity
- collaborative research potential
- interdisciplinary research value
- integrative biology example
- systems biology application
- bioindicator validation
- biomonitoring protocol
- environmental quality indicator
- ecosystem health indicator
- restoration success indicator
- management effectiveness measure
- conservation outcome metric
- performance monitoring tool
- adaptive management feedback
- evidence-based conservation
- science-policy interface
- knowledge transfer potential
- science communication value
- public engagement opportunity
- media interest potential
- storytelling value
- narrative conservation
- emotional connection potential
- aesthetic value
- intrinsic value
- existence value
- bequest value
- option value
- direct use value limited
- indirect use value
- non-use value predominance
- total economic value estimation
- ecosystem service valuation
- natural capital accounting
- green infrastructure valuation
- nature-based solution potential
- climate mitigation co-benefits
- climate adaptation co-benefits
- disaster risk reduction value
- water security contribution
- food security limited relevance
- livelihood support limited
- cultural service value
- spiritual value limited
- recreational value limited
- educational service value
- scientific service value
- knowledge generation value
- inspiration value
- symbolic value limited
- identity value limited
- sense of place limited
- heritage value
- intergenerational equity consideration
- sustainability principle application
- precautionary principle application
- polluter pays principle limited
- beneficiary pays principle
- common but differentiated responsibilities limited
- intra-generational equity consideration
- procedural equity consideration
- recognition equity consideration
- distributional equity consideration
- environmental justice relevance
- indigenous knowledge integration limited
- local knowledge integration potential
- traditional ecological knowledge limited
- citizen knowledge integration
- stakeholder engagement needs
- participatory conservation approach
- community-based conservation potential
- co-management opportunity limited
- adaptive co-management potential
- learning-based management
- social-ecological system perspective
- resilience thinking application
- transformative change potential
- systemic intervention needs
- leverage point identification
- conservation intervention design
- theory of change development
- results chain construction
- outcome mapping potential
- impact pathway analysis
- attribution challenge
- contribution assessment
- mixed methods evaluation
- qualitative monitoring needs
- quantitative monitoring needs
- participatory monitoring potential
- indicator development needs
- baseline establishment needs
- counterfactual consideration
- control site needs
- experimental design potential
- quasi-experimental methods
- statistical matching potential
- regression discontinuity limited
- instrumental variables limited
- synthetic control methods limited
- difference-in-differences potential
- panel data methods
- time series analysis needs
- spatial analysis methods
- geostatistical methods
- remote sensing application
- drone survey potential
- eDNA monitoring potential
- acoustic monitoring limited
- automated detection potential
- machine learning application
- artificial intelligence potential
- big data integration
- open data sharing value
- data standardization needs
- metadata documentation needs
- data quality assurance
- data management planning
- long-term data archiving
- repository deposition needs
- DOI assignment value
- citation practice improvement
- attribution standards
- intellectual property consideration
- ethical research practice
- animal welfare consideration limited
- permit compliance needs
- institutional review limited
- indigenous rights consideration
- access and benefit sharing limited
- biosecurity consideration
- invasive species interaction limited
- pathogen interaction limited
- pollutant interaction potential
- contaminant bioaccumulation potential
- toxicology research needs
- risk assessment potential
- environmental health relevance
- One Health connection limited
- planetary health relevance
- ecosystem health framework application
- conservation medicine limited
- eco-immunology potential
- disease ecology limited
- parasite-host dynamics limited
- microbiome research potential
- symbiosis research limited
- holobiont concept limited
- extended phenotype limited
- niche construction potential
- ecosystem engineering limited
- keystone species status limited
- foundation species status limited
- dominant species status limited
- ecosystem engineer status limited
- trophic cascade potential limited
- regime shift potential limited
- alternative stable states limited
- critical transition potential limited
- resilience assessment potential
- threshold identification needs
- early warning signal detection
- tipping point proximity assessment
- hysteresis potential limited
- recovery dynamics
- restoration ecology application
- rehabilitation potential
- reconstruction limited
- replacement limited
- substitution limited
- ecological replacement limited
- rewilding relevance limited
- de-extinction irrelevance
- synthetic biology irrelevance
- gene drive irrelevance
- biotechnology application limited
- genetic rescue potential limited
- genetic management needs
- ex-situ intervention limited
- in-situ intervention priority
- headstarting potential limited
- translocation potential limited
- reintroduction potential limited
- supplementation potential limited
- augmentation potential limited
- establishment potential limited
- colonization assistance limited
- range expansion facilitation limited
- climate tracking potential limited
- assisted colonization inappropriate
- managed relocation rejected
- predictive distribution modeling
- climate envelope modeling
- process-based modeling potential
- mechanistic niche modeling
- correlative niche modeling application
- species distribution modeling
- occupancy modeling
- detection-nondetection modeling
- abundance modeling potential
- demographic modeling potential
- population viability modeling
- metapopulation modeling potential
- spatially explicit modeling
- individual-based modeling potential
- agent-based modeling potential
- system dynamics modeling limited
- network modeling potential
- food web modeling limited
- ecosystem modeling limited
- earth system modeling limited
- integrated assessment modeling limited
- scenario analysis potential
- forecasting needs
- hindcasting potential
- model validation needs
- model selection criteria
- model averaging potential
- ensemble modeling potential
- uncertainty quantification needs
- sensitivity analysis needs
- robustness analysis needs
- model transparency needs
- model reproducibility needs
- open science practices
- code sharing needs
- workflow documentation
- version control application
- computational reproducibility
- analytical reproducibility
- methodological reproducibility
- conceptual reproducibility
- replication study needs
- meta-analysis potential
- systematic review potential
- evidence synthesis needs
- knowledge gap identification
- research agenda setting
- priority action identification
- implementation science needs
- conservation practice improvement
- professional development needs
- capacity building needs
- training program development
- skills gap analysis
- competency framework development
- career pathway development
- mentorship program potential
- network building needs
- community of practice development
- learning network establishment
- knowledge exchange platform
- innovation diffusion potential
- best practice identification
- practice standard development
- guideline development needs
- protocol standardization
- quality assurance framework
- accreditation potential
- certification potential
- professional recognition needs
- award potential
- fellowship potential
- scholarship potential
- endowment potential
- sustainable financing needs
- funding diversification
- business model innovation
- social enterprise potential
- conservation finance mechanism
- payment for ecosystem services limited
- biodiversity offsetting inappropriate
- habitat banking inappropriate
- species banking inappropriate
- conservation trust fund potential
- debt-for-nature swap limited
- green bond potential limited
- impact investment potential limited
- blended finance potential
- public-private partnership potential
- corporate engagement potential
- philanthropic engagement potential
- individual giving potential
- membership program potential
- subscription model potential
- crowdfunding potential
- challenge prize potential
- innovation competition potential
- hackathon potential
- citizen science platform
- volunteer program development
- internship program potential
- service learning opportunity
- academic service learning
- experiential education value
- field course potential
- workshop development potential
- conference presentation value
- symposium organization potential
- journal special issue potential
- book chapter opportunity
- field guide contribution potential
- identification resource development
- key development potential
- illustration commission potential
- photography collection value
- specimen collection value
- museum collection contribution
- herbarium voucher limited
- tissue sample banking
- genetic resource banking
- cryopreservation potential
- seed banking irrelevant
- pollen banking irrelevant
- sperm banking irrelevant
- embryo banking irrelevant
- cell line establishment irrelevant
- in vitro culture limited
- micropropagation irrelevant
- tissue culture irrelevant
- organ culture irrelevant
- whole organism culture limited
- artificial propagation limited
- captive breeding inappropriate
- ex-situ population management unnecessary
- zoo collection potential limited
- aquarium collection potential limited
- botanic garden collection irrelevant
- arboretum collection irrelevant
- gene bank establishment unnecessary
- seed orchard irrelevant
- clone archive irrelevant
- field gene bank irrelevant
- in-situ conservation stand irrelevant
- on-farm conservation irrelevant
- home garden conservation irrelevant
- community seed bank irrelevant
- participatory plant breeding irrelevant
- evolutionary plant breeding irrelevant
- landscape approach irrelevant
- seascape approach irrelevant
- territorial approach limited
- bioregional approach limited
- ecoregional approach potential
- hotspot approach limited
- gap analysis application
- systematic conservation planning
- prioritization algorithm application
- optimization method application
- Marxan application limited
- Zonation application limited
- Conservation Planning Software application
- decision support tool development
- spatial prioritization needs
- temporal prioritization needs
- threat prioritization needs
- action prioritization needs
- resource allocation optimization
- portfolio approach application
- bet-hedging strategy
- robust decision making
- decision scaling application
- adaptation pathways approach
- dynamic adaptation policy pathways
- transformation pathways potential
- socio-ecological scenario development
- narrative scenario construction
- quantitative scenario modeling
- backcasting potential
- leapfrogging potential
- disruptive innovation potential
- transformational change potential
- system innovation potential
- institutional innovation potential
- governance innovation potential
- policy innovation potential
- legal innovation potential
- economic innovation potential
- social innovation potential
- technological innovation potential
- biological innovation irrelevant
- ecological innovation limited
- evolutionary innovation potential
- conservation innovation index
- innovation diffusion tracking
- adoption barrier identification
- scaling challenge analysis
- implementation barrier assessment
- enabling condition identification
- success factor analysis
- failure mode analysis
- lesson learning system
- knowledge management system
- organizational learning capacity
- adaptive capacity building
- transformative capacity building
- absorptive capacity building
- innovative capacity building
- responsive capacity building
- precautionary capacity building
- anticipatory capacity building
- preparedness capacity building
- recovery capacity building
- resilience capacity building
- sustainability capacity building
- viability capacity building
- feasibility assessment
- desirability assessment
- acceptability assessment
- legitimacy assessment
- effectiveness assessment
- efficiency assessment
- equity assessment
- appropriateness assessment
- adequacy assessment
- sufficiency assessment
- necessity assessment
- proportionality assessment
- subsidiarity assessment
- coherence assessment
- consistency assessment
- compatibility assessment
- conformity assessment
- compliance assessment
- performance assessment
- impact assessment
- outcome assessment
- output assessment
- input assessment
- process assessment
- context assessment
- needs assessment
- capacity assessment
- risk assessment
- vulnerability assessment
- hazard assessment
- exposure assessment
- sensitivity assessment
- adaptive capacity assessment
- coping capacity assessment
- response capacity assessment
- recovery capacity assessment
- transformation capacity assessment
- development assessment
- sustainability assessment
- resilience assessment
- viability assessment
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- Catalogue of Life
- A Dragonfly to Behold: Within an Arm's Reach | Bug Squad
- Got Moths? Celebrate National Moth Week and Global Citizen Science
- Fantastic dragonflies and how to help them - Buglife Blog - Buglife
- Eastern Red-Bellied Tiger Beetle | Beetles In The Bush
- blogging | Beetles In The Bush | Page 2
- Cicindelidae | Beetles In The Bush | Page 6
- Adult tiger spiketail (Cordulegaster erronea Hagen) habitat use and home range observed via radio-telemetry with conservation recommendations
- Nymph Ecology, Habitat, and Emergence-Site Selection of Cordulegaster erronea Hagen (Tiger Spiketail Dragonfly) in New Jersey with Implications for Conservation
- The life history, behavior and conservation of the tiger spiketail dragonfly (Cordulegaster erroneaHagen) in New Jersey with notes on radiotelemetry studies