Ischnura (Forktails)

Found almost everywhere dragonflies live, though mostly absent from boreal habitats; distribution in North America is decidedly southern. BC has four species, but only the two most widespread - Ischnura cervula and I. perparva - are encountered often. I. damula is strictly northern and I. erratica lives only on the south coast. Male forktails in BC are mostly black, blue and green. The abdomen is black above and has a blue tip; the last segment bears a distinct forked projection on top, which gives the group its English name. Females may be the same colour as males or may have a tan, pink or orange thorax when immature; they may darken with extensive pruinescence as they age. Larvae are similar to those of bluets, but the gills usually have long, tapered tips.

Figure 6. Ischnura male appendages, side view; in a and b, the hind view of the top of abdominal segment 10 is on the right: a, cervula, damula; c, perparva; d, erratica. A10 = abdominal segment 10; UA, LA = upper, lower appendages.

Ischnura cervula (Pacific Forktail)

Ischnura damula (Plains Forktail)*

Ischnura perparva (Western Forktail)