St. Croix Snaketail
Ophiogomphus susbehcha
This record describes Ophiogomphus susbehcha (species). Recorded family: Gomphidae. Recorded order: Odonata.
Identification and Appearance
Discovered on the upper St. Croix River in Wisconsin in 1989 by William A. Smith, a zoologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Inventory Program (Brody, 1997; Seitz, 2020).
Classification
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Local in upper Mississippi valley (St. Croix River); disjunct population in Maryland and Virginia differs in structure and is perhaps a separate taxon .
Seasonal Activity
May-June (Wisconsin)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Species name susbehcha is the Lakota Sioux word for dragonfly (Seitz, 2020).
About Dragonflies and Damselflies: the wider group
Order-level background for Odonata, the group containing Ophiogomphus susbehcha. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Odonata includes ~6,000 described species of dragonflies and damselflies. Dragonflies are among the fastest flying insects, reaching 36 mph (58 km/h). They can fly in any direction including backward, and hover in place - each wing operates independently.
Ecological role of the group
Dragonflies predate dinosaurs by nearly 100 million years - fossils date to 325 million years ago. The largest dragonfly ancestor, Meganeuropsis permiana (285 mya), had a 75cm wingspan, enabled by atmospheric oxygen levels of 31-35% compared to today's 21%. Dragonflies have a 95% hunting success rate - the highest of any predator.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Dragonflies are voracious predators that consume hundreds of mosquitoes daily, providing natural pest control worth millions in reduced mosquito-borne disease risk. A single dragonfly can eat 30 to hundreds of mosquitoes per day.
Recorded sources for this group: Natural History Museum London, Britannica, fossil record research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of St. Croix Snaketail (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ben Coulter; Additional contributions by cotinis
Frequently Asked Questions About St. Croix Snaketail
What is St. Croix Snaketail?
St. Croix Snaketail (Ophiogomphus susbehcha) is a species in the family Gomphidae, within the order Odonata.
Where is St. Croix Snaketail found?
Range: Local in upper Mississippi valley (St. Croix River); disjunct population in Maryland and Virginia differs in structure and is perhaps a separate taxon .
When is St. Croix Snaketail active?
St. Croix Snaketail: seasonal activity - May-June (Wisconsin).