What it is
Hine’s emerald (Somatochlora hineana) is a dragonfly of calcareous fens: groundwater-fed wetlands on limestone or dolomite: in the U.S. Midwest. It is federally listed under the Endangered Species Act. The pack has no global IUCN slug; this card does not invent one.
Range
Scattered fen systems in the Midwest, historically including parts of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri, and nearby states. Larvae need the cool, mineral-rich water of those fens.
What happened
Fens were drained, quarried, or cut off from groundwater. A dragonfly that cannot use a farm pond disappears when the fen goes. Listing and fen protection are the remaining tools. This is not a pond-skimmer of every county wetland.
When / status
Federally listed in the United States. Tied to a rare wetland type.
Human role
Drainage, quarry, and development of calcareous fens: the only habitat the species uses.
Sources
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service species page (Somatochlora hineana).