| Eastern forktail | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Adult male | |
 | |
| Adult female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Zygoptera |
| Family: | Coenagrionidae |
| Genus: | Ischnura |
| Species: | I. verticalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Ischnura verticalis | |
Eastern forktail (Ischnura verticalis) is a member of the damselfly family Coenagrionidae. [3] [4]
This species is present in the Eastern United States, from the Atlantic coast to the Midwest and from north of Florida to Southern Canada [5] and west to Montana and New Mexico. [6]
These damselflies inhabit various wetlands, especially small ponds, slow moving streams and marshes. [5]
Ischnura verticalis can reach a body length of 22–30 millimetres (0.87–1.18 in). [5] These small green, black and blue damselflies have a slender body with four wings folding over the back. The thorax of the males is black above, with pale green sides and green shoulder stripes. Eyes are dark above, greenish below. Abdomen is mainly black, with thin pale rings. The top of the abdomen (eighth and ninth abdominal segments) is blue, with black markings on sides. [5] [6] The males' abdomens shows tiny projections off the tip (hence the common name verticalis of this species). [7]
Females are usually grayish-blue, with greyish markings on the abdomen. In the immature female, the thorax is bright orange with black dorsal and shoulder stripes. The abdomen is black above and orange below. Eyes are dark above, orange below. [5] The pterostigma is white to light brown. The females may be less commonly yellow-green like the male. [8] [9]
This species is very similar to Ischnura perparva , or the Western Forktail. These two species can be better distinguished on the basis of their range.
Adults typically fly from late June to early October, [9] but in some locations may extend from early April to early November. [7] Females are commonly monogamous, as they mate only once. They may fertilize over a thousand eggs with the sperm of a single male. [6] [10]
Damselflies are flying insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies but are smaller and have slimmer bodies. Most species fold the wings along the body when at rest, unlike dragonflies which hold the wings flat and away from the body. Damselflies have existed since the Jurassic, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.
Enallagma cyathigerum is a species found mainly between latitudes 40°N and 72°N; It is widely distributed in the Palearctic, and the Nearctic species Enallagma annexum was at one time considered to be synonymous with it. The species can reach a length of 32 to 35 mm. It is common in many different countries including Russia, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the United States of America, and South Korea. Damselflies are an important link between the health of the aquatic ecosystem and its response to climate change.
The large red damselfly is a species of damselflies belonging to the family Coenagrionidae. It is native to the western Palearctic.
The blue-tailed damselfly or common bluetail is a damselfly, belonging to the family Coenagrionidae.
Ischnura senegalensis, also known variously as common bluetail, marsh bluetail, ubiquitous bluetail, African bluetail, and Senegal golden dartlet, is a widespread damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae. It is native from Africa, through the Middle East, to southern and eastern Asia.
The citrine forktail is a damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae.
Ischnura aurora, the gossamer damselfy or golden dartlet and also known as the aurora bluetail, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae.
Ischnura is a genus of damselflies known as forktails in the family Coenagrionidae. Forktails are distributed worldwide, including various oceanic islands. The males have a forked projection at the tip of the abdomen which gives the group their common name.
Ischnura gemina is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae known by the common name San Francisco forktail. It is endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area in California in the United States. This uncommon insect has a total range of less than 500 square miles in the Bay Area, occurring only in greater San Francisco and parts of San Mateo and Marin Counties. This species is "one of the rarest Odonates in the United States."
The blue riverdamsel, Pseudagrion microcephalum is a common species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is also known as the blue sprite and blue grass dart.
The powdered dancer is a damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae. It is native to North America. It may be seen year-round in at least some of its range.
The eastern billabongfly is a damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is also known as the eastern dart. Eastern billabongflies are small damselflies about 25mm (1 inch) in length. They are found near slow running water or still water, such as lakes, ponds and ditches. Male and female eastern billabongflies mate in a wheel position.
The marsh bluet is a damselfly species in the family Coenagrionidae.
The orange bluet is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae.
Chalcolestes viridis, formerly Lestes viridis, is a damselfly of the family Lestidae. It has a metallic green body and at rest it holds its wings away from its body. Its common name is the willow emerald damselfly, the green emerald damselfly, or the western willow spreadwing. It has an elongated abdomen and pale brown spots on its wings and resides in areas of still water with overhanging trees.
Pseudagrion rubriceps, saffron-faced blue dart, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in many tropical Asian countries.
Ischnura erratica, the swift forktail, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is native to the Pacific Northwest, ranging from British Columbia to northern California.
Ischnura pruinescens is a damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly known as the colourful bluetail. The taxon has been assessed for the IUCN Red List as being of least concern and is listed in the Catalogue of Life.
Ischnura rubilio, western golden dartlet, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in Indian subcontinent and Iran.
The Persian damselfly or Dumont's bluetail is a damselfly, belonging to the family Coenagrionidae.
