Text and photo by Beth Bartoli,
Newport Park Naturalist
When I have a spare moment, one of the things I like to do is wander through the Songbird Garden that is outside the office building entrance to see what is happening out there. There are different things blooming throughout the growing season that attract not only birds, but many pollinators as well.
On the 17th of July, I was making my quiet rounds through that area when my attention was drawn to a large dragonfly hanging out on a Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum). I started taking pictures as I eased forward, hoping at least one of them would show details of the dragonfly.
Studying the photo, I was amazing to discover that it was a rare and very local species, a male Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly! It is the only dragonfly on the Federal List of Endangered Species. Once believed to be extinct, the Hine’s Emerald dragonfly was rediscovered in 1987 at The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Mink River Preserve here in Door County. TNC is protecting groundwater recharge areas important to the dragonfly’s larvae, which may be the key to the species’ survival. Found only in a few places in the U.S., the largest population occurs in Door County, with smaller populations in Illinois, the UP of Michigan and a few sites in Missouri.
Identifying features are:
- Large dragonfly, about 2.5” long
- Two yellow stripes on a metallic green thorax
- Dark abdomen with a thinning at the “waist”
- Iridescent green eyes, with young ones displaying a brownish lens
- Downward curve of the abdomen
- Males have unique circular clasper
It was an exciting find and a thoughtful reminder to slow down and observe what is going on around us. If you haven’t been to the park lately, I hope you take the time to visit our new garden areas. One just never knows what you will find there!
