Damsel (Western Forktail)

Western Forktail

Ischnura perparva

Native
Status: Common

Size: very small

Length - 24 - 31 mm

Eye color - small eyespots point inward

Thorax color - male: top has 2 blue-green (immature green) stripes

Abdomen color - male: sides on segments 8 & 9(usually) barely touch top and bottom; female: immature orange & black with segments 1-3 mostly orange; becomes all pale pruinose at maturity

Appendages - lower forked

Habitat - weedy ponds, creeks

Behavior - females lay eggs solo; only mate once, then curl their 'tail' down to signal when approached by other males signaling that they are not interested in sex

Flight period - early March - early November

Range - southern British Columbia east to Manitoba and south to Texas and California except Imperial County

(source:google/http://kern.audubon.org)