Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Ischnura hastata - Citrine Forktail

 Citrine Forktail - Ischnura hastata - male Citrine Forktail - Ischnura hastata - male Orange damselfly--forktail or ?? - Ischnura hastata Citrine Forktail - Ischnura hastata Tiny damselfly? - Ischnura hastata - male Eastern Forktail? - Ischnura hastata Petite Damselfly - Ischnura hastata - male damselfly specimen - Ischnura hastata
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)
Suborder Zygoptera (Damselflies)
Family Coenagrionidae (Narrow-winged Damselflies)
Genus Ischnura (Forktails)
Species hastata (Citrine Forktail)
Size
20-27 mm.
Identification
Male has mostly yellow abdomen with some black markings; the tip is entirely yellow. Alone of all damselfly species in the world, the male Citrine Forktail has a forewing stigma that is not along the leading edge of the wing (in other words, the stigma is entirely surrounded by clear cells of the wing).

This species is probably the smallest U.S. damselfly.

Male:


Teneral male and female

Orange Female:


Closeup:

Olive Female:
Range
Ontario. United States, excluding the northwest quarter of the country.
Habitat
Likes dense vegetation along still waters such as ponds.
Season
Primarily a summer species.
Food
Tiny flying insects.
Print References
(1)
Works Cited
1.Damselflies of the Northeast
Ed Lam. 2004. Biodiversity Books.