Species Spotlight: Citrine Forktail

We turn our attention now to a small, delicate damselfly—the Citrine Forktail. As one might expect from the name, males of this damselfly are a light yellowish color. Here's a male perched in deep grass, a typical habitat:



In addition to its distinctive color, this species is known for its short wings, as can be seen in the above photo.

Females, like those in some other forktail species, are mostly pruinose blue. Here's an example:



This species is generally quite inconspicuous. Individuals fly with a slow "floating" motion through high grass. They are often found as you walk through the grass, with the occasional step flushing a few. After drifting through the grass for a short time, they settle down again and disappear.

Here's a pair in the wheel position:



We see this species in Arizona, often along the shore of a small stream.