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Rambur's Forktail (heteromorph female)
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
this damselfly was slightly smaller than the usual damselflies. and when i first noticed it (perching, above a lake), it looked totally black. i thought i saw a black damselfly. and was about to take position (for shooting) when it started flying again and then had landed on this another perch. this time, the morning sunlight was fully on the body and i was amazed to see its brilliant body colour!
this is a Rambur's Forktail damselfly (Ischnura ramburii). a heteromorph female. this damselfly belongs to the family 'Coenagrionidae', which is the family of 'Pond Damselflies'.
remember? i found this damselfly perching above a lake.
Rambur's Damselflies are named after the great entomologist, Jules Pierre Rambur (France).
Identification:
how to identify Rambur's damselflies? lets quote a source.
"the completely blue abdominal segment 8 (A8) in males appears to be diagnostic. male-like female with blue (A8) is also diagnostic. the two other female forms are not readily separable from other species. the females do have a strong vulvar spine that is not present in all Ischnura females".
Size:
males 27.5-36.5 mm; females 27-35 mm.
as i had said, slightly smaller than the usual damselflies (33-40 mm).
Habitat:
occurs throughout the coastal plain. found along pond edges and wet meadows, including coastal brackish ponds.
Range:
USA, Mexico, Antilles, Chile and Hawaii.
Note:
'Ischnura ramburii' is a polymorphic species. males with either bright green thorax or a bluish thorax. females with 3 forms: i) orange, ii) olive, or iii) male-like.
the orange and olive females have all the dorsal surfaces of abdominal segments 3-10 (A3-A10) dark, whereas the male-like female has A8 completely blue and A9 mostly blue.
information courtesy:
Arizona Dragonflies
Wikipedia
Bug Guide
The Dragonflies & Damselflies of New Jersey
PS: apart from its brilliant colour, what i found cute about this damselfly was the way it was perching. not like other damselflies, but as if clutching the perch! it was so cute. never seen before :) |
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hello Ruby
very nice picture with great details and beautiful colours
good pose to take this picture
thanks greeting lou
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