Quick IdentificationDowny Emerald (Cordulia aenea)
Male Downy Emerald
Quick ID Guide
Welcome to my quick identification guide of the Downy Emerald.
These graphics are meant as a guide to the key identifying features of both the male and the female dragonflies.
The text section has been kindly written & supplied by Mr Ken Crick.
For a more complete species description, follow the link below to the Downy Emerald narrative.
The eyes are bright green, except in the immature when they are light brown tinged with green. The whole of the body is bottle green with a metallic bronze sheen. The thorax and abdominal segments 1 & 2 are obviously covered in bronze coloured hairs. The abdomen is significantly waisted at segment 3 expanding in the form of an indian club to its thickest at segment 7 & 8. Definitive diagnostic features require close examination: they are, the limited but rich saffron patches at the root of the wing, no yellow on the frons, the outward facing tips to the anal appendages and the diminutive broken yellow line crossing the upper surface of segment 2.
Female Downy Emerald
Alternatively follow the link to the main species page.
Not the species you were looking for.
All of the images and graphics are by Chris Brooks.
The abdomen bulges at segment 2 but is not waisted. With the exception of the anal appendages all the diagnostic features are as the male. In comparison with the Brilliant Emerald dragonfly the Downy female has no conspicuous vulvar scale.
Chris Brooks Photography
(www.dragonfly-images.co.uk)
