DNR Species of Concern
The Minnesota DNR has listed the following 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)”
Aeshna sitchensis zigzag darner -- SC Boreal species of sphagnum ponds and rich fens; only recent collections are in 3 northwestern MN counties; sparsely distributed elsewhere in northern US and Canada; surveys incomplete. Adjacent SRank/Status: WI:S1; IA:-; SD:-; ND:-; MB:SNR; ON:S4
Aeshna subarctica subarctic darner -- SC Boreal species of forested bogs and rich fens; only MN collections are from Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, and Roseau Cos.; circumpolar, but very few US locations; surveys incomplete. Adjacent SRank/Status: WI:S1/SC; IA:-; SD:-; ND:-; MB:SNR; ON:S1S2
Boyeria grafiana ocellated darner -- SC This species of rocky shorelines has a spotty distribution in eastern NA, but in MN has been
collected from only 3 streams in Lake and Cook Counties; surveys incomplete. Adjacent SRank/Status: WI:-; IA:-; SD:-; ND:-; MB:-; ON:S3
*Leucorrhinia borealis boreal whiteface -- SC More common to the northwest of MN, this species of shallow lakes and prairie ponds has only been found at one Cass Co. site, and possibly at Itasca SP, Clearwater Co.; surveys incomplete. Adjacent SRank/Status: WI:-; IA:-; SD:-; ND:SNR; MB:SNR; ON:S1
*It has recently been determined that the one record of this species was misidentified. Although it is NOT known from Minnesota, it could be and we should be on the lookout for it.
Ophiogomphus howei pygmy snaketail -- SC A rare, diminutive dragonfly of fast-flowing water in clear, large streams; in MN, lone healthy pop’n occurs in the St. Croix R.; may also occur on the Miss. R., Itasca Co.; surveys extensive. Adjacent SRank/Status: WI:S3/T; IA:-; SD:-; ND:-; MB:-; ON:-
Somatochlora brevicincta Quebec emerald -- SC A species of poor fens previously known from scattered sites in British Columbia and the Canadian Maritime Provinces; discovered in MN in 2006 in Lake County; surveys incomplete.
Adjacent SRank/Status: WI:-; IA:-; SD:-; ND:-; MB:-; ON:SNR
Somatochlora ensigera plains emerald -- SC Restricted to scattered small prairie or woodland streams of the Great Plains; known from 3 northern MN counties; vulnerable to habitat loss; surveys incomplete. Adjacent SRank/Status: WI:S1/SC; IA:S3; SD:SNR; ND:SNR; MB:SNR; ON:SH
Somatochlora forcipata forcipate emerald -- SC Widespread to the north, this species is at the southwest edge of its range in MN, where it is known from small streams in boggy areas of Lake and St. Louis Counties; surveys incomplete. Adjacent SRank/Status: WI:S2/SC; IA:-; SD:-; ND:-; MB:SNR; ON:S2