Fen-specialist
Guides
Somatochlora hineana
Hine's Emerald, Hine's Emerald Dragonfly
Somatochlora hineana is a rare dragonfly species endemic to North America, listed as endangered in Canada since 2011 and of conservation concern in the United States. The species is highly specialized, requiring groundwater discharge areas in wetland habitats to complete its life cycle. It exhibits habitat segregation between sexes and has been documented with biased sex ratios, factors that complicate conservation efforts. The Canadian population is restricted to the Minesing Wetlands in Ontario, while U.S. populations occur in Michigan and other states with suitable calcareous wetland habitats.
Tanypteryx hageni
Black Petaltail
Tanypteryx hageni, the black petaltail, is a rare dragonfly species in the family Petaluridae and one of only two members of the genus Tanypteryx. It represents a phylogenetically ancient lineage that diverged from its Japanese sister species T. pryeri approximately 70-73 million years ago, making it a 'living fossil' among dragonflies. The species is a habitat specialist restricted to montane fen environments in the Pacific Northwest of North America, where nymphs construct and inhabit water-filled burrows—a unique life history strategy shared with other petaltail species but uncommon among dragonflies generally.