Emeralds

The only represenatives of the Emeralds in eastern Nebraska are the Baskettails (genus Epitheca). Baskettails are so named because the females carry all of their eggs under their abdomen in a yellow or orange ball which they release all at once onto nearly submerged vegetation. It is believed that this method of depositing eggs lessens the time the female is exposed to aquatic predators. Baskettails can be seen constantly patrolling their territories along the shore. They seldom perch. The two Baskettails in Fontenelle Forest are Prince Baskettail, a large dragonfly with bright green eyes and the medium-sized Common Baskettail.

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