# Pacific Forktail (*Ischnura cervula*) The Pacific Forktail is a small, colorful dragonfly that loves to flutter around ponds and streams. With its bright blue and green colors, it looks like a tiny jewel in the air! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Pacific Forktail](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ischnura_cervula-Copulating-11.jpg&width=800) Photo: Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ischnura_cervula-Copulating-11.jpg) ## Appearance The Pacific Forktail is a slender damselfly, with males sporting a vibrant sky-blue body marked with black patterns, particularly on their tail. Females are typically greenish-yellow or brown. They can be distinguished from dragonflies by their much thinner bodies and by holding their four wings neatly together over their back when at rest. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Coenagrionidae - **Genus:** Ischnura ## Interesting facts - Males display a bright blue 'tail fork' used for identifying mates, making them easy to spot! - Pacific Forktail nymphs spend up to two years growing underwater before transforming into adults! - These tiny hunters have massive eyes that give them almost 360-degree vision to spot prey! - When mating, a male and female Pacific Forktail form a beautiful heart shape with their bodies! ## Special abilities - **Underwater Gills:** Pacific Forktail nymphs can breathe underwater because of specialized gills on their tails, which helps them survive and hunt in aquatic environments. - **Aerial Acrobat:** Pacific Forktail can dart and hover with four independently controlled wings, helping them expertly catch tiny flying insects mid-air. - **Plant Egg Layer:** Pacific Forktail females have a special blade-like organ that helps them insert eggs safely into underwater plant stems. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 30-45 mm - **Size:** 25-35 mm - **Lifespan:** 365-730 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These tiny hunters catch and eat other small insects in the air, keeping mosquito populations in check! - **Age differences:** Nymphs hunt small aquatic invertebrates, while adults catch flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, gnats, midges, small flies, aquatic invertebrates - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) — Trout eagerly consume damselfly nymphs and adults when hunting in water. - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Adult Pacific Forktails are skilled hunters of flying mosquitoes near water. - **Eaten by:** Northern Leopard Frog (*Lithobates pipiens*) — Frogs frequently prey on damselflies found resting or flying near the water's edge. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful around water where dragonflies live, and always stay close to an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Pacific Forktail? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Pacific Forktail's wingspan? 30-45 mm ### How big is Pacific Forktail? 25-35 mm ### How long does Pacific Forktail live? 365-730 days ### How fast can Pacific Forktail fly? 15 km/h ### What does Pacific Forktail eat? These tiny hunters catch and eat other small insects in the air, keeping mosquito populations in check! ### Where is Pacific Forktail usually found? Wetlands ### How does Pacific Forktail hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Bloedel Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bloedel-reserve) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden - [Conejo Valley Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conejo-valley-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Marymoor Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/marymoor-park) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve - [South Coast Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-coast-botanic-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Bellevue Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellevue-botanical-garden) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Pacific Forktail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pacific-forktail) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Pacific Forktail: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pacific-forktail)