Epitheca princeps

Distinguished from skimmers in family Libellulidae by the longer, narrower abdomen and green eyes. Separated from other baskettail species (Epitheca spp.) by larger size and later flight season; most other baskettails fly primarily in spring and early summer, while E. princeps continues into summer. The Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) is superficially similar but has a broader abdomen and different wing pattern.

Adults have brilliant green eyes characteristic of emerald dragonflies. The body is robust with a notably long, narrow abdomen that distinguishes it from similar skimmer dragonflies. Wings are clear with dark patches at the base and along the leading edge. The overall coloration is brownish with greenish thoracic markings.

Found near lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams with emergent vegetation. Favors areas with floating and emergent plant tangles where females deposit egg masses. Habitats include forested wetlands, prairie ponds, and reservoir edges with aquatic vegetation.

North America, with records across the United States and southern Canada. Specific records include Vermont and the Midwest (Illinois, Missouri).

Active from spring through summer; has a longer flight season than most other baskettail species, which typically fly only in spring and early summer.

Females practice exophytic oviposition: they extrude eggs onto the subgenital plate, forming a gelatinous mass, then fly over water dragging the abdomen to deposit eggs in long strings on or among aquatic vegetation. Eggs are suspended in gelatinous fluid that expands in water. Larval development is aquatic; emergence timing varies by latitude.

Females exhibit a distinctive rhythmic back-and-forth movement of the abdomen while extruding eggs onto the subgenital plate prior to oviposition. During flight with egg masses, the abdomen tip is held aloft in a characteristic posture. Both sexes may be found perching vertically on vegetation near water.

Adults are aerial predators of small flying insects. Larvae are aquatic predators in freshwater food webs. Egg masses provide food source for aquatic invertebrates.

Subject of interest to dragonfly enthusiasts and photographers due to distinctive oviposition behavior. Serves as indicator species for healthy wetland ecosystems.

• Epitheca canis (Common Baskettail)Smaller size, earlier flight season (spring-early summer), more widespread
• Epitheca semiaquea (Semiaquatic Baskettail)Smaller, more restricted habitat preferences, earlier flight period
• Libellula pulchella (Twelve-spotted Skimmer)Similar wing pattern but broader abdomen, different family (Libellulidae), lacks green eyes

• dragonfly
• emerald
• oviposition
• wetland
• North America

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Bug Eric: How Baskettails Got Their Name
• insect diversity | Blog - Part 3
• spiders | Beetles In The Bush | Page 4
• Araneae | Beetles In The Bush | Page 4
• ID Challenge #9 | Beetles In The Bush