Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita)

Description

These damselflies are about 0.82 to 1.14 inches long. The male and female fragile forktails appear very different from each other. Males are yellowish-green, while females are varying shades of blue. Both sexes possess pale stripes on their shoulders that look like exclamation marks (!) and black spots on the ends of their abdomen.

Adults have four wings that fold over their backs. They remain active from spring to early fall.

Distribution: Eastern part of North America, including parts of Canada, Mexico, and the United States

Habitat: Stationary bodies of water like pools, ponds, streams, etc

Do they bite: No

Lifespan: Depends on the specimen; can range from a few weeks to several months

Predator: Birds

Behavior and Characteristics

Feeding

These insects consume smaller flying insects, though they sometimes feed on other damselflies.

Defensive

 The fragile forktail will flex its abdomen and beat its wings rapidly to ward off threats.

Life Cycle

Mature specimens mate over the water, sometimes while flying but mostly on shoreline vegetation or weed beds. The female lays her eggs soon after breeding and mates again almost immediately.

1. Egg Stage

Female fragile forktails will crawl down the vegetation growing out of the water and lay the eggs underwater in the submerged portion.

2. Nymph Stage

The nymphs are brown and are known for their predatory behavior. They go through 10-12 molts before finally becoming an adult. With each instar, they take on a darker coloration.

They will emerge from under the water and cling to the shoreline vegetation when fully developed. During this time, their skin breaks, and they develop a skin case. These insects need a while before taking flight, as it needs to pump fluids into their wings and abdomen.

Interesting Facts

• The nymphs have three gills on their abdomen, allowing them to breathe underwater.