NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 4

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata) by John Petranka

Compare with: Distinctive
Identification Tips: Move the cursor over the image, or tap the image if using a mobile device, to reveal ID Tips.
Note: these identification tips apply specifically to mature males; features may differ in immature males and in females.

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Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Citrine Forktail

Flight Charts

Distribution

Statewide, found in all 100 counties.

Abundance

Very common to locally abundant in the Coastal Plain, and common westward. There are several counts of 1,000 individuals in a day, and others with over 100 individuals; most of these are in the Sandhills region of the Coastal Plain, but there are now several triple-digit counts for a coastal county (Carteret).

Flight

A very long flight period. Primarily late February to mid-January in the Coastal Plain, but has been recorded in all months in the province. The Piedmont flight is from mid-March to late November, whereas in the mountains the flight is from early April to late October or early November. There is also a record for mid-February in the Piedmont.

Habitat

Lakes or ponds with much grassy vegetation around the margins; bogs, marshes. May also be found along slow-moving rivers.

Behavior

Perching low within vegetation, this tiny damsel can be difficult to spot, though the bright colors of mature males and immature females are helpful. Typically flies in a slow, hovering manner keeping within vegetation. Both sexes and all ages often occur together.

Comments

This is certainly one of the most abundant odonates (not just damselflies) in NC, from the coast to the mountains. As all forktails are very small (barely an inch long if that), they can be easily passed over unless you carefully inspect the grasses and sedges along the shoreline.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-18 17:14:55

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Citrine Forktail 56 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2025-03-23, 2 miles SE of Clarkton - At ephemeral puddles in swamp		Photo 2 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Henderson, 2024-08-01, Ochlawaha Bog
	Photo 3 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Carteret, 2024-07-27, Salters Creek Gamelands Ponds, Sealevel - 2:05P at ponds		Photo 4 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Macon, 2024-07-24, Wilson Lakes, Nantahala National Forest
	Photo 5 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Chatham, 2023-06-09, Jordan Lake Educational State Forest		Photo 6 by: Charles Williams, Laura Williams Comment: Guilford, 2022-08-19, Neighborhood Retention Pond 36.172639, -79.793329 - Male pic at 10:11 AM and Female pics at 5:42 PM
	Photo 7 by: Charles Williams, Laura Williams Comment: Guilford, 2022-08-19, Neighborhood Retention Pond 36.172639, -79.793329 - Male pic at 10:11 AM and Female pics at 5:42 PM		Photo 8 by: Charles Williams, Laura Williams Comment: Guilford, 2022-08-19, Neighborhood Retention Pond 36.172639, -79.793329 - Male pic at 10:11 AM and Female pics at 5:42 PM
	Photo 9 by: Mike Turner Comment: Cumberland, 2022-07-04, Jessup's Mill Pond - ad.males		Photo 10 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Carteret, 2022-04-13, Fort Macon State Park
	Photo 11 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2022-03-21, NHCBS, Hollow Rock Nature Park, West of Pickett Road, Loop Trail		Photo 12 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-07-10, Hot Springs area - female
	Photo 13 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-07-06, Hot Springs area		Photo 14 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Richmond; C, 2021-05-06, Lake McKinney (lake & hatcheries)
	Photo 15 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-08-12, Pond at Wolf Laurel exit, I-26		Photo 16 by: Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf Comment: Richmond; C, 2020-04-26, Lake McKinney fish hatchery
	Photo 17 by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin Comment: Yancey, 2019-07-30, Mount Mitchell State Park at 5820' - in seepage area.		Photo 18 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and party. Comment: Avery, 2019-05-21, Pond on private property that adjoins the Blue Ridge Parkway in southern Avery County. - Males.
	Photo 19 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Mitchell, 2019-05-16, Living Waters Campground, Glen Ayre. - male at small pond		Photo 20 by: Aaron Edmonds Comment: Harnett; C, 2019-03-22, Immature Female- Campbell University- Marshbanks Property
	Photo 21 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Graham, 2018-07-05, Field on Yellow Creek Rd. about 400 yds west of water pipeline crossing - male		Photo 22 by: Mark Shields Comment: Pamlico, 2018-06-22, retention pond east of McDonald's on NC 55, Grantsboro
	Photo 23 by: Mark Shields Comment: Beaufort, 2018-05-25, Voice of America Game Land		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Rockingham, 2018-05-13, Mayo River State Park (MARI) - Mayo Mountain Access - around ponds near park office
	Photo 25 by: Mark Shields Comment: New Hanover, 2017-12-19, Carolina Beach State Park (CABE), limesink ponds - 21 singles, 1 pair in wheel		Photo 26 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2017-08-13, Woodfin Riverside Park; Lat: 35.63133 Long -82.60006 - Male
	Photo 27 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Scotland, 2017-05-15, Scotland Lake and in-flowing creek, Sandhills Game Land		Photo 28 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Camden, 2017-04-14, Dismal Swamp State Park (DISW)
	Photo 29 by: Mark Shields Comment: Carteret, 2016-03-13, ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest		Photo 30 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2015-12-15, Stones Creek Game Land