Aquatic Insects of Michigan by Ethan Bright, Museum of Zoology Insect Division and School of Natural Resources and Environment |
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Epitheca (Baskettails) of Michigan - IdentificationIntroduction These are medium-sized (subgenus Tetragoneuria) to large (subgenus Epicordulia) dragonflies with dark brown bodies and small yellow, orange or reddish markings on the sides of the abdomen. Nymphs have prominent depressed, rounded abdomens and prominent middorsal hooks and lateral spines. Closeness of certain species may be the result of recent radiation of populations not being entirely isolated, resulting in hybridization between some species (Tennessen 2019). E. cynosura, E. spinigera and E. princeps are distributed throught Michigan. E. canis is absent from the southwest of the Lower Peninsula, whereas E. costalis is restricted to the southeast portion of the Lower Peninsula (Lake St. Clair south to Lake Erie). Taxonomic References: Needham et al. 2014, Paulson 2011, Tennessen 2019 Adults
Mature Nymphs
References
Paulson D. 2011. Dragonflies and damselflies of the East. Princeton Field Guides. Princeton University Press, Pinceton, New Jersey, USA. 538 p. Tennessen KJ. 2019. Dragonfly nymphs of North America: An Identification Guide. Springer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland: xiv + 620 p. Last updated: April 27, 2020 (EB) |