20230306-Odonata-Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita) female-5
Hi-I thought you might enjoy one of the Odonata-Coenagrionidae family (damselflies) now emerging, 3/6/2023, from our lagoons. View this female perched low on vegetation along the edge of The Landing’s brackish lagoon # 15, Skidaway Island, Savannah, Ga. (Long lagoon across from the Dog Park that extends to the Marshwood driving range)
Please note the two photos of her in an egg-laying posture! Observe the minnow approaching body segment # 10, my image # 5, which is displayed as the first image! Observe what I believe is the ovipositor, that structure at the end of the abdomen in the female used to lay eggs.
We have 151 lagoons at the landings; app 65% are brackish. The Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) spend app 85 percent of their lives underwater. They are ravenous predators of mosquitos, both underwater as nymphs and above water as adults! I believe this is a female Fragile Forktail (body length 21-29mm)!
Two expert naturalists have now confirmed my belief that the damselfly was a female Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posits). Thanks to Giff Beaton and Joshu Lincoln!
BTW, I highly recommend “Dragonflies & Damselflies of Georgia and the Southeast” by Giff Beaton, a friend and a leading Georgia resident Naturalist!
20230306-Odonata-Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita) female-5
Hi-I thought you might enjoy one of the Odonata-Coenagrionidae family (damselflies) now emerging, 3/6/2023, from our lagoons. View this female perched low on vegetation along the edge of The Landing’s brackish lagoon # 15, Skidaway Island, Savannah, Ga. (Long lagoon across from the Dog Park that extends to the Marshwood driving range)
Please note the two photos of her in an egg-laying posture! Observe the minnow approaching body segment # 10, my image # 5, which is displayed as the first image! Observe what I believe is the ovipositor, that structure at the end of the abdomen in the female used to lay eggs.
We have 151 lagoons at the landings; app 65% are brackish. The Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) spend app 85 percent of their lives underwater. They are ravenous predators of mosquitos, both underwater as nymphs and above water as adults! I believe this is a female Fragile Forktail (body length 21-29mm)!
Two expert naturalists have now confirmed my belief that the damselfly was a female Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posits). Thanks to Giff Beaton and Joshu Lincoln!
BTW, I highly recommend “Dragonflies & Damselflies of Georgia and the Southeast” by Giff Beaton, a friend and a leading Georgia resident Naturalist!