Forktails
What are they?
The forktails are attractive but tiny damselflies which can be hard to find as they hunt low amongst dense, waterside vegetation.
Identification
Male forktails are generally pretty distinctive but females can be much harder. The presence or absence of pale stripes on the thorax and presence or absence of a vulvar spine are important features in identifying the females. The vulvar spine is situated on the underside, towards the distal tip of the abdomen and is used in the egg laying process.
Fragile Forktail Ischnura posita
Length: 0.8-1.1 inches. Flight time: Mid April to mid October. A widespread and common species which is found in most wetland habitats, even lightly polluted ponds. Though widespread, the small size makes this an easily-missed species. The pale line accompanied by a dot on the thorax (which looks like an exclamation mark) is diagnostic.
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Eastern Forktail Ischnura verticalis
Length: 1.0-1.2 inches. Flight time: Early April to mid November. Though this species is regarded as a common species throughout much of Eastern North America, it does not appear to be particularly common in Cape May County. The species is a generalist and will appear especially at newly-created wetlands so should be expected more or less anywhere. Males have two bright blue segments towards the distal end of the abdomen. Females have a complete pale stripe on the side of the thorax.
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Rambur's Forktail Ischnura ramburii
Length: 1.0-1.2 inches. Flight time: Early June to early November (into December in exceptional years). A widespread and common species which may be found in most types of wetland habitats, including newly-formed or lightly polluted locations. Male resembles Eastern Forktail but has just a single blue band on the abdomen. Female may appear male-like or begin with an orange thorax which gradually darkens with age. In the latter form, females differ from Eastern Forktail in having no pale band on the thorax.
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Citrine Forktail Ischnura hastata
Length: 0.8-1.1 inches. Flight time: Late April to early November (into December in exceptional years). A common and widespread species with a long flight period and likely to be found in almost any freshwater habitat. Along with Fragile Forktail, one of our smallest damsels which can be very hard to spot amongst lakeside vegetation. The orange forewing pterostigma (the colored spot on the leading edge of the wing) of the male Citrine Forktail is unique amongst our damsels in that it does not directly touch the edge of the wing, but is joined to the edge by a single vein.
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Lilypad Forktail Ischnura kellicotti
Length: 1.0-1.3 inches. Flight time: Mid May to early October. A very localized species, being tied strongly to the presence of water-lilies, but may be very common where it occurs. Males are very similar to some of the bluets, while females may be orange or blue, or a combination of the two, becoming dark gray-blue with age. Both species can be identified by the habit of curling the back end of the abdomen down when at rest on water-lily leaves.
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