Species of Interest
Zigzag Darner - Aeshna sitchensis - thorax
Not all of the following dragonfly species are officially listed as “Special Concern” in Minnesota, but all of these species need more work due their relative rarity in Minnesota.
Nearly all of the damselfly species are grossly under surveyed. Thus, there are not enough data to even guess.
St. Croix (Wisconsin) Snaketail - Ophiogomphus susbehcha: In Minnesota, found only in the St. Croix River, bordering Wisconsin and in the mouths of tributaries immediately adjacent to the St. Croix. Many other possibly suitable rivers have been sampled in Minnesota with no other populations discovered.
Sand (Sioux) Snaketail – Ophiogomphus smithi: Not yet known from Minnesota, but it occurs just east of the St. Croix River in Wisconsin. Smaller, sandy tributaries should be investigated.
Extra-striped Snaketail – Ophiogomphus anomolus: Known in Minnesota from the Pigeon River, the St. Croix River, the Brule River near Lake Superior and the Upper St. Louis River near Aurora. Other sites may well hold populations in Minnesota.
Smoky Shadowdragon – Neurocordulia molesta: Found from the lower St. Croix River and down the Mississippi River, though with spotty records.
Zebra Clubtail – Stylurus scudderi: Found in the Sturgeon River and along the St. Croix River in Minnesota. Other sites are probable.
Ocellated Darner – Boyeria grafiana: Known from a few of the larger streams in NE Minnesota.
Arrowhead Spiketail – Cordulegaster obliqua
Arrowhead Spiketail – Cordulegaster obliqua: Known only from a few sites in Northern Minnesota. Recently established just east of the Lake of the Woods on NW Ontario.
Splendid Clubtail – Gomphus lineatifrons: Possible in NE half of state from small , moderate to rapid streams in forested areas.
Skillet Clubtail - Gomphus ventricosus: Known from the east and north of Minnesota, but there are many gaps in the distributional data.
Pygmy Snaketail – Ophiogomphus howei: Known from the St. Croix River and its lower tributaries with possible populations in the upper Mississippi River.
Least Clubtail – Stylogomphus albistylus: Similar habitat to that of the Snaketails need investigation.
Zigzag Darner – Aeshna sitchensis: This boreal species ranges into Northern Minnesota where muskeg and cool sphagnum ponds abound. There are gaps in its distribution.
Ski-tailed Emerald – Somatochlora elongata
Subarctic Darner – Aeshna subarctica: It is known from only a few sites across the northern tier of counties, recently established in the NE.
Green-striped Darner – Aeshna verticalis: Local populations suspected in the northern 2/3 of the state. Only known from a handful of sites.
Boreal Whiteface – Leucorrhinia borealis: There are only older, historical records of this species in Minnesota but its range is suspected in the NW quarter of the state.
Ski-tailed Emerald – Somatochlora elongata: Known only from a few sites in NE Minnesota. Other populations expected.
Plains Emerald – Somatochlora ensigera: Known from two sites in NW MN, one in NE MN and from NW Iowa. Work in the western portions of the state should reveal more populations.
Forcipate Emerald – Somatochlora forcipata - female
Forcipate Emerald – Somatochlora forcipata: Known, currently, only from the NE in Minnesota, this species could be found throughout the northern third of Minnesota.
Delicate Emerald – Somatochlora franklini: Known, currently, only from the NE in Minnesota, this species could be found throughout the northern third of Minnesota.
Kennedy’s Emerald – Somatochlora kennedyi: Known, currently, only from the NE in Minnesota, this species could be found throughout the northern third of Minnesota.
Quebec Emerald – Somatochlora brevicincta: In 2005, this species was photographed in Near Finland in Lake County and confirmed with the collection of a specimen and exuvia in 2006. Previously only known from British Columbia and from the Canadian Atlantic Seaboard with 10 sites in Maine we now have established this species in Minnesota. The larval exuvia were found in a poor fen and similar sites across northern Minnesota should be investigated for more populations. Read more about this species.
Ebony Boghaunter – Williamsoni fletcheri: Not yet found in Minnesota, but established populations are known in Wisconsin from just east of Carlton and Pine Counties.
DNR Species of Concern
The Minnesota DNR has listed several species as “Species of Special Concern”. The definition of this status is: ” Special Concern (extremely uncommon in Minnesota, or with unique or highly specific habitat requirements and deserving careful monitoring of its status, or on the periphery of its range, or once threatened or endangered but now have increasing or protected, stable populations; not protected under MESA; location records maintained by DNR)”. View the DNR Species of Concern List