Facilitating the protection and restoration of species and ecosystems at risk on BC’s South Coast

Length: males 4.6—5.0 cm, females 4.4—4.5 cm. Males and females similar in colour pattern. The face is yellow-green striped with black, the eyes greenish-black or black and yellow. The top and sides of the thorax are pale green to green-yellow with a broad black lateral stripe on each side. The abdomen is nearly all black and narrow, with the tenth segment being the widest. Males have a broad, spiky abdominal tip. Females have slightly more yellow patterning on the abdomen (mid-dorsal line extends down to the seventh abdominal segment and lateral spotting is more extensive). The pterostigma (coloured, thickened cell on the leading edge of each wing membrane near the tip), is narrow and black. The 2.4 cm larvae (“nymphs”), have antennae with four segments, the third segment being half as wide as long. The abdomen is oval with a rounded, upturned tip and short lateral spines on the abdominal segments. Larvae burrow into substrate with just the abdominal tip protruding, using it to breathe by pumping water in and out through it.

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Status

Global Status: 
G4
Provincial Status: 
S2
BC List Status: 
Red (Candidates for- Extirpated, Endangered, or Threatened status)

RESOURCES

For further information see: