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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) » Damselflies (Zygoptera) » Narrow-winged Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) » Forktails (Ischnura) » Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula)
Photo#530812
Spreadwing, I think - Ischnura cervula
Copyright © 2011 R. Berg

Spreadwing, I think - Ischnura cervula
Heather Farm Park, Contra Costa County, California, USA
June 16, 2011
On low vegetation next to lake, afternoon. Smaller than most damselflies nearby.

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Spreadwing, I think - Ischnura cervula Spreadwing, I think - Ischnura cervula
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Contributed by R. Berg on 17 June, 2011 - 4:48pm
Last updated 17 June, 2011 - 9:31pm

Moved
Images linked and moved from Spreadwings. Markings match Manolis's description of the immature gynomorphic female (Dragonflies and Damselflies of California) except that he says nothing about blue on the sides of segment 9.
… R. Berg, 17 June, 2011 - 9:31pm login or register to post comments

Good one!
Stopped us in our tracks for a minute! :)
These are likely teneral, just out of the larval skin. Thus the unusual wing position. Or maybe they didn't dry properly. One of the wings has a funny crimp.
… john and jane balaban, 17 June, 2011 - 7:47pm login or register to post comments

Yes, we have the same thought here
Immature female, Ischnura cervula. Any males around?
… john and jane balaban, 17 June, 2011 - 5:03pm login or register to post comments

 
Why, yes, my husband's home, but he wouldn't know
Many damselflies were nearby, but all the others were larger and perched with their wings together. This specimen (or these two specimens) was visibly smaller and more delicate-looking than the rest. I don't know enough about damsels to say whether male forktails were present. Comments on others' photos show that there's another species, I. denticollis, that apparently can be hard to distinguish from the one you suggested.
… R. Berg, 17 June, 2011 - 7:40pm login or register to post comments

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