Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii)
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The colorful Rambur's Forktail is one of the most numerous damselflies to be found in the Garden. They frequently rest on vegetation right next to the water and are quite active during the middle of the day.
The male, shown above, is green, yellow, and turquoise, from head to tail. The females, however, come in three different colors. Below is the color phase that resembles the male. The female is distinguished by a spur on the underside of the tip of her tail, while the male has knob on the underside of the base of his.
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Female Rambur's Forktails are voracious hunters and can often be found eating their most recently captured prey. They are even known to be cannibalistic. The damselfly above is eating an unidentified flying insect. Two of the discarded wings can be seen at her feet.
Below is an example of another female color phase: red. This one is eating a small moth.
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The third color phase of the females is a dark, dull green, as in the insect shown below.
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When these damselflies mate, it can be quite a colorful affair.
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class: Insecta / order: Odonata / family: Coenagrionidae / genus: Ischnura / species: ramburii
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