Fragile Forktail Ischnura posita (Hagen, 1861)    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Odonata   >   Family Coenagrionidae   >   Genus Ischnura   

Status:

Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita) is a small, dark species of forktail, found commonly at vegetated ponds, lakes, ditches, or slow sections of streams over an extensive range. This damselfly will often perch or forage in the shade (Lam, 2004). In Maryland, this species is abundant, and occurs in every county (Richard Orr's Dragonflies and Damselflies of Maryland and the District of Columbia).

Description:

The interrupted thoracic stripes, similar in shape to an exclamation mark, are very distinctive.

There are 1,585 records in the project database.

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Fragile Forktails in wheel position in Washington Co., Maryland (7/16/2012). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Fragile Forktail in Harford Co., Maryland (7/14/2017). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

A Fragile Forktail in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/19/2012). Photo by Brandon Woo. (MBP list)

A Fragile Forktail in Washington Co., Maryland (6/8/2019). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Fragile Forktail in Carroll Co., Maryland (5/17/2019). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

A Fragile Forktail in Washington Co., Maryland (6/15/2019). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/5/2020). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Carroll Co., Maryland (5/20/2020). (c) emilio c, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Prince George's Co., Maryland (4/15/2021). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Carroll Co., Maryland (7/7/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

A Fragile Forktail in Prince George's Co., Maryland (4/24/2016). Photo by Barbara Thurlow. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (5/23/2022). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons. (MBP list)

A Fragile Forktail in Harford Co., Maryland (6/22/2017). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A female Fragile Forktail in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/25/2006). Photo by Steve Collins. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Caroline Co., Maryland (5/18/2019). (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Judy Gallagher. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/10/2021). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

A Fragile Forktail in Baltimore City, Maryland (4/29/2007). Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

A female Fragile Forktail along the Little Patuxent River, Howard Co., Maryland (7/30/2008). Photo by Steve Collins. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Caroline Co., Maryland (5/18/2019). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/9/2021). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

A Fragile Forktail in Howard Co., Maryland (9/29/2013). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Fragile Forktail in Washington Co., Maryland (7/14/2018). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Kent Co., Maryland (5/1/2021). (c) pcowartrickmanphoto, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Pamela Cowart-Rickman. (MBP list)

A female Fragile Forktail in Baltimore City, Maryland (7/14/2006). Determined by Cliff Bernzweig/BugGuide. Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

A Fragile Forktail in Frederick Co., Maryland (5/28/2017). Verified by John and Jane Balaban/BugGuide. Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/1/2021). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

A Fragile Forktail in Howard Co., Maryland (7/11/2012). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/27/2020). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Harford Co., Maryland (7/2/2006). (c) Rick Cheicante, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Rick Cheicante. (MBP list)

A Fragile Forktail in Dorchester Co., Maryland (4/20/2015). Verified by Larry de March/BugGuide. Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Fragile Forktail in Baltimore City, Maryland (7/15/2006). Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

An immature Fragile Forktail in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/7/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A teneral female Fragile Forktail in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/11/2015). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Fragile Forktail in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/1/2018). Photo by Barbara Thurlow. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/5/2012). (c) Sam Droege, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Sam Droege. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/5/2012). (c) Sam Droege, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Sam Droege. (MBP list)

A Fragile Forktail attracted to a blacklight on the Worcester/Wicomico Co. line (7/21/2013). Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Caroline Co., Maryland (7/25/2014). (c) 116916927065934112165, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA). Photo by Matt Muir via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Fragile Forktail in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/30/2022). (c) kbarylski, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by kbarylski via iNaturalist. (MBP list)


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