Eastern Forktail / Agrion vertical
Ischnura verticalis
Fundy Nature Notes, Quotes and Anecdotes 2
Eastern Forktail /Agrion verticale
(Ischnura verticalis)
Adult size: 23-33 mm
Habitat/Status: Very common and widespread in the Maritimes. Indeed, this is likely the most abundant Odonate in the region. It is found in small ponds, ditches, lakes (large and small) or slow reaches of streams and rivers; however, it often spends much of its time amongst emergent vegetation, making it somewhat less conspicuous than its actual abundance would indicate.
Typical flight period: In the Maritimes, this species flies from mid-May to late September (dates May14th NB – September 27th NB) and is apparently multiple-brooded.
ID hints: While the male is quite easy to identify with his unique combination of lime green thorax and turquoise blue-tipped (or topped) tail, the females have several “colour forms” which can resemble several other species. The “orange form” female is common and typical in young females and could be confused with the Orange Bluet, a species not yet known form eastern New Brunswick. As they mature, these females generally become a “ghostly pale blue”, as the waxy pruinosity eventually completely obscures the orange colour. There is also a male-like blue form which is very reminiscent of a bluet, but the female will also take on the same ghostly pale blue colour as she ages.
Nature Notes: - it is said that this is one pugnacious little damselfly, sometimes taking on all comers! There are reports of this species chasing off much larger Lyre-tipped Spreadwings and Philip Corbet even mentions a case where an Eastern Forktail killed and ate a freshly emerged Spreadwing (species unspecified).
- Ola Finke found that the males recognize females ready to breed by the presence of their pruinosity (the “ghostly” pale blue waxy coating).
Sources and Credits
- (c) Denis Doucet, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Denis Doucet
- (c) Denis Doucet, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
More Info
iNaturalist.ca Map
| Family | Coenagrionidae (Pond Damsels) |
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