Citrine Forktail - Ischnura hastata (Say, 1839)



Range & Habitat:

Found throughout the state but can be decided local.



Often found in wet low growing sedges and grasses near ponds and bogs.



Flight Season:
Early Date: 23 April
Late Date: 1 November

Flight season charts created from records in the official database maintained by Allen Barlow.

Male Lateral - Photo by Jim Bangma
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Description:

A tiny yellow and black damsel, males are not readily confused with anything else, but are easily overlooked.


Young females resemble tiny red-form Rambur's Forktails with a heavy black dorsal line on the thorax but then become olive green. The black on the abdomen is restricted to the rear segments.



Conservation Status:
State: S4 Apparently secure in New Jersey
Global: G5 Secure globally, but possibly rare in parts of its range