Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata)

Citrine Forktail
Ischnura hastata

The Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata) is a tiny damselfly of grassy, wet areas. This is really a tiny creature and care must be used to see it as it easily escapes notice. It often flies very slowly among grass stems where it can seem to vanish before your eyes. The species occurs throughout the southern and eastern areas of the U.S. as well as parts of the southwest to California. The photos here, of a male (green with yellow abdomen) and female (pale orange) were digital captures in the Angelina National Forest, Angelina Co., Texas in May 2003 and were shot with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 300 mm F4 L IS lens with a 1.4 extender and 550 EX flash.

The male Citrine Forktail shown here and the female just below were at Pena Blanca Lake, Santa Cruz Co., Arizona, in May, 2008. These shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.

The male Citrine Forktail shown here was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in February, 2009. This image was taken with the same gear as the above two shots.
The male Citrine Forktail shown here, and the 2 shots of females just below, were in the Angelina National Forest, Jasper Co., Texas, in June, 2009. This shot, and the next 2 below, were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 l IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The image shown here shows a young female Citrine Forktail.
The adult female shown here is depositing eggs into vegetation on the surface of a pond.
The male Citrine Forktail shown here was in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio in July, 2009. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
Citrine Forktail Ischnura hastata female Belterra, Hays Co., Texas 5 April 2013
Citrine Forktail Ischnura hastata male Belterra, Hays Co., Texas 5 April 2013
Citrine Forktail Ischnura hastata male Gus Engling W.M.A., Anderson Co., Texas 9 June 2013