The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
Home Page Search Odonate Resources
LoginNC Biodiversity Project
North Carolina's 189 Odonate species
Common Name: Scientific Name:

«      »

Sort Species by: Family   Scientific Name       [ Undocumented ]
Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE: Number of records for 2022 = 25
Added in 2022 from a previous year = 11

PDF has more details,
e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
[View PDF]		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.

[Google images]
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 early March 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. 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.
State Rank S5
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2021-02-13 17:40:03
Photo Gallery for Citrine Forktail   45 photos are available.
Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Cumberland, 2022-07-04, Jessup's Mill Pond - ad.males		Photo 2 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Carteret, 2022-04-13, Fort Macon State Park
Photo 3 by: John Petranka

Comment: Orange, 2022-03-21, NHCBS, Hollow Rock Nature Park, West of Pickett Road, Loop Trail		Photo 4 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-07-10, Hot Springs area - female
Photo 5 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-07-06, Hot Springs area		Photo 6 by: Matt Spangler

Comment: Richmond; C, 2021-05-06, Lake McKinney (lake & hatcheries)
Photo 7 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-08-12, Pond at Wolf Laurel exit, I-26		Photo 8 by: Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf

Comment: Richmond; C, 2020-04-26, Lake McKinney fish hatchery
Photo 9 by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin

Comment: Yancey, 2019-07-30, Mount Mitchell State Park at 5820' - in seepage area.		Photo 10 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 11 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips

Comment: Mitchell, 2019-05-16, Living Waters Campground, Glen Ayre. - male at small pond		Photo 12 by: Aaron Edmonds

Comment: Harnett; C, 2019-03-22, Immature Female- Campbell University- Marshbanks Property
Photo 13 by: Owen McConnell

Comment: Graham, 2018-07-05, Field on Yellow Creek Rd. about 400 yds west of water pipeline crossing - male		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Pamlico, 2018-06-22, retention pond east of McDonald's on NC 55, Grantsboro
Photo 15 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Beaufort, 2018-05-25, Voice of America Game Land		Photo 16 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 17 by: Mark Shields

Comment: New Hanover, 2017-12-19, Carolina Beach State Park (CABE), limesink ponds - 21 singles, 1 pair in wheel		Photo 18 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Buncombe, 2017-08-13, Woodfin Riverside Park; Lat: 35.63133 Long -82.60006 - Male
Photo 19 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips

Comment: Scotland, 2017-05-15, Scotland Lake and in-flowing creek, Sandhills Game Land		Photo 20 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips

Comment: Camden, 2017-04-14, Dismal Swamp State Park (DISW)
Photo 21 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Carteret, 2016-03-13, ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest		Photo 22 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2015-12-15, Stones Creek Game Land
Photo 23 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Pender, 2015-11-17, Holly Shelter Game Land		Photo 24 by: Owen McConnell

Comment: Graham, 2014-07-14, Tulula Wetlands
Photo 25 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton

Comment: Graham, 2013-07-16, Tulula Bog - Male & Female		Photo 26 by: John Petranka

Comment: Orange, 2013-06-30, Johnston Mill Preserve, along New Hope Creek at powerlines. - Male.
Photo 27 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Madison, 2013-05-28, River Road, north of Hot Springs - Male		Photo 28 by: Doug Johnston

Comment: New Hanover, 2013-04-25, Carolina Beach State Park
Photo 29 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston, Simon Thompson

Comment: Polk; P, 2012-08-04, Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) - Male & Female		Photo 30 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Wake, 2012-07-16, Field near NC State - Male