The Hine's emerald (Somatochlora hineana) is an endangered dragonfly species found in the United States and Canada.

[1] Larvae are found in shallow, flowing water in fens and marshes, and often use crayfish burrows.

An adult Hine's emerald has a distinctive dark-green thorax with two yellow lateral stripes.

Hine's emeralds spend the majority of this lifespan in the larval stage, which lasts 2–4 years.

[9] The specific length of this stage varies with food supply, water depth, and temperature.

While in this stage, Hine's emerald nymphs live within streamlets and mature by undergoing a series of molts.

[1] A mature larvae transitions into the adult stage by climbing up onto a cattail and completing a final molt.

[13] Male and female nymphs appear to progress into the adult stage in equal proportions.

These territories range from 2–4 metres (6.6–13.1 ft) in area and sit close to bodies of water.

[15] Post-copulation, the female repeatedly dips her abdomen into shallow water to deposit her fertilized eggs.

[9] Adult Hine's emeralds feed upon small flying insects such as mosquitoes and gnats.

[16] Hine's emeralds occupy wetland, pond and pool, wet meadow, forest, and marsh habitats.

Within the United States, the Hine's emerald's range includes Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin.

A 2006 paper suggests that devil crayfish (Lacunicambarus diogenes) help sustain populations of their Hine's emerald nymph prey.

[17] As Hine's emerald habitats dry up in late summer, crayfish burrows remain wet.

The IUCN Red List states that current populations are stable, estimating that there are over 30,000 individuals globally.

[13] Restoring Hine's emeralds to lasting population sizes allows the ESA to downgrade the species from endangered to threatened.

Fish and Wildlife Service cited three main reasons why Hine's emerald warrants federal protection.

[20] By January 1995, Hine's emerald was officially added to the ESA and listed as an endangered species.

[9] In the Recovery Plan, the Fish and Wildlife Service suggests various ideas to increase Hine's emerald survivorship.

[9] The Fish and Wildlife Service details the importance of managing existing populations and researching demographic changes.

[9] The Recovery Plan's objective is clear: "assure the long-term viability by arresting or reversing the decline of Hine's emerald populations and addressing its threats to survival".

[13] This final criterion has not been met due to lack of knowledge of breeding and habitat structure.

[13] In Canada, the Hine's emerald is listed on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act as endangered, having received this status in 2017.

[19] The population's continued existence is jeopardized by urban development and the spread of invasive plants such as European common reed (Phragmites australis subsp.

[8] Hine's emerald dragonfly was last assessed by the IUCN Red List on June 8, 2018.

These threats are fragmentation, changes to water flow, contaminants, vehicle mortality, and invasive animals and plants.

As of 2012, studies were being conducted to investigate barriers to Hine's emerald movement, such as roads and bridges.

[13] Invasive plants have the potential to affect Hine's emerald habitats, behaviors, movements, and breeding.

The invasion of woody vegetation and cattails into Hine's emerald habitats could affect adult flight behaviors.