Eastern Forktail Ischnura verticalis (Say, 1839)    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Odonata   >   Family Coenagrionidae   >   Genus Ischnura   

Status:

The Eastern Forktail (Ischnura verticalis) is probably the most successful and ubiquitous odonate in our region. This attractive species will breed in nearly any standing or slow water, including lakes, ponds, ditches, backwaters of streams and rivers, and marshes, but does not appear to tolerate acidic habitats like bogs or fens (Paulson, 2011). It occurs in every county in Maryland.

There are 1,179 records in the project database.

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An Eastern Forktail in Washington Co., Maryland (7/28/2018). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A male Eastern Forktail in Howard Co., Maryland (7/1/2012). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

An Eastern Forktail in Howard Co., Maryland (8/30/2013). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

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

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

An Eastern Forktail in Harford Co., Maryland (5/17/2015). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

A female Eastern Forktail in Howard Co., Maryland (6/22/2012). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

Eastern Forktail in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/7/2012). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A mature female Eastern Forktail in Crosby Co., Texas (8/22/2010). Photo by Steve Collins. (MBP list)

A female Eastern Forktail in Pakenham, Ontario (6/23/2008). Photo by Steve Collins. (MBP list)

Eastern Forktail in Calvert Co., Maryland (5/18/2022). (c) Jason E. Avery, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jason Avery. (MBP list)

An Eastern Forktail in Washington Co., Maryland (6/24/2018). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Eastern Forktail in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/20/2022). (c) Nathaniel Schwartz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND). Photo by Nathaniel Schwartz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An Eastern Forktail in Harford Co., Maryland (5/17/2015). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

Eastern Forktail in Kent Co., Maryland (7/6/2023). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A female Eastern Forktail eating a Sedge Sprite in Fryeburg, Maine (6/22/2010). Photo by Steve Collins. (MBP list)

An Eastern Forktail in Talbot Co., Maryland (4/8/2012). Photo by Jared Satchell. (MBP list)


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