Try for Free
tab list
Picture Insect
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Home Application Download FAQ
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Icon about
About
Icon about
General Info
Icon about
Search Tips
Icon about
Harmful or Not
Icon about
Beneficial Effects
Icon about
Common FAQs
Icon about
Similar Insects
Icon about
Popular Insects
Eastern forktail

Eastern forktail

Ischnura verticalis

A species of Forktails

Within its aquatic nymph stage, eastern forktail features gills for respiration and predates on various waterborne organisms. Emerging as an adult, it possesses a slender abdomen and strikingly colored longitudinal stripes along its thorax, adapting it for an aerial lifestyle. Its compound eyes are well-developed, facilitating its predatory efficacy by enabling superior visual tracking of flying insect prey.

General Info About Eastern forktail
Instantly identify insects with a snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and risk assessment, gaining quick insights on bite assessment, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safe interaction tips, etc.
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Attributes of Eastern forktail
Habitat
wetland (inland); artificial/aquatic & marine area
Adult Food Sources
Mosquitoes, flies, moths, small beetles, other flying insects
Larva Food Source
Aquatic insect larvae, small crustaceans, tadpoles, worms, other small aquatic organisms
Biting/stinging
Not reported
Allergy-causing
Not reported
Defensive attack
Not reported
Venomous
Not reported
Non-poisonous
The Eastern forktail is non-toxic and generally doesn't pose a risk to human health. No need for excessive worry.
Borer
Not reported
Pollinator
Not reported
Pest-Eating Predatory
Not reported
Phytophagous
Not reported
Predatory
The Eastern forktail typically preys on other arthropods and does not directly affect plants.
qrcode
Img download isoImg download android
Rectangle
Species Status of Eastern forktail
It is present in the Eastern United States.
Rectangle
Distribution Area of Eastern forktail
Eastern United States
Rectangle
Life Cycle of Eastern forktail
Egg The eastern forktail begins life as an egg, usually laid in or near water. The eggs are small and can vary in color, often mimicking the environment to avoid predation.
Naiad Upon hatching, the naiad of eastern forktail resembles the adult but without wings. naiads are aquatic, predatory, and undergo several molts, growing larger and developing wing buds with each stage.
Adult Emerging from the final molt, the adult eastern forktail has fully developed wings and reproductive organs. The body is elongated, slender, and often brightly colored. Adults are aerial, focusing on mating and laying eggs.
Rectangle
Adult Size of Eastern forktail
2 - 3 cm
Rectangle
Interesting Facts About Eastern forktail
Eastern forktail can rapidly regenerate their wing tissue, a trait rarely found in the insect world, making them extraordinarily resilient to wing damage.
Rectangle
Scientific Classification of Eastern forktail
Tips for Finding Eastern forktail
Your ultimate guide to understanding insects
Unlock the secrets of insect life cycles, habitats, behaviors and observation tips!!
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Youth Habitat of Eastern forktail
Freshwater Habitats
Rectangle
Adult Habitat of Eastern forktail
Freshwater Habitats, Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Prairies, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas, Urban and Suburban Areas
Rectangle
How Can You Attract Eastern forktail
No trap or bait is commonly used to attract eastern forktail, as these creatures are predators and primarily eat other small insects they hunt themselves in their habitat.
Rectangle
Habitat Preferences of Eastern forktail Through Different Life Stages
The eggs of eastern forktail are laid in aquatic vegetation, so searching for them involves inspecting plants in or near freshwater bodies such as ponds and slow-moving streams. naiads, or naiads, live underwater, often clinging to submerged plants or hiding among debris on the bottom; thus, to find them, one would sift through the aquatic substrate or examine the leaves and stems of water plants. The adult eastern forktail, after emerging from the naiadal stage, is typically found in meadows, fields, and areas adjacent to the water sources where they developed, where they hunt for prey and mate. They are often seen perching on vegetation or flying near water.
Rectangle
How and Where Can You Find Eastern forktail at Different Life Stages
Egg Eggs of eastern forktail are usually laid in or near water bodies. To find eggs, carefully inspect the stems and leaves of aquatic plants at the edges of ponds, lakes, or streams.
Naiad Naiads of eastern forktail are aquatic and can be found in slow-moving or still freshwater bodies. Look for them by gently stirring the sediment at the bottom of shallow ponds or streams and by examining submerged vegetation.
Adult During emergence, eastern forktail transition from naiads to adults and are often found at the water's edge. Examine the vegetation and stones near the shore early in the morning to spot these creatures as they shed their naiadl casings.
Eastern forktail adults are most commonly seen in flight near water bodies or perching on vegetation. To find them, visit sunny spots near water bodies and look for eastern forktail perched with their wings held together above their bodies or flying in the area.
Are Eastern forktail harmful?
Your Complete Pest Control Guide
Discover effective tips for preventing and eliminating pest infestations to keep bugs away from your home.
Download the App for Free
Beneficial Effects of Eastern forktail
Discover the hidden benefits of insects
Explore how insects help as pollinators, pest predators, and biocontrol agents. From seed dispersal to decomposition, they play vital roles in our ecosystem.
Download the App for Free
Predators of Pests
Predators of Pests
Stage
Adults, Naiads
Diets
Mosquitoes, Small Aquatic Insects
Eastern forktail is a prolific hunter throughout its life stages. As a naiad, it ambushes prey in water; in its adult form, it adeptly captures mosquitoes mid-air. Its role as a natural pest controller is crucial. Eastern forktail's precision in targeting mosquitoes helps in controlling their population, benefiting ecosystems and potentially reducing disease spread.
Common Questions People Also Ask
Get Quick Insect Answers with a Snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and answers on bites, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safety tips!
Download the App for Free
Other Popular Insects
Western honey bee
Western honey bee

Western honey bee(Apis mellifera) is the most common species of honeybee in the world. Among the first domesticated insects, its cultural and economic impact on humanity has been vast and far-reaching, providing honey, wax and its services as a pollinator. Western honey bee faces challenges worldwide, such as colony collapse disorder, and populations are thought to be decreasing.

Read More
Arrow
Monarch butterfly
Monarch butterfly

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the most recognizable butterfly in North America. It is best known for its appearance, but should be better known for the fact that it has a 3000-mile migration that takes the butterfly 4 generations to complete. Their diet is also a natural deterrent for predators, as they eat milkweed, a poison that induces vomiting.

Read More
Arrow
Japanese rhinoceros beetle
Japanese rhinoceros beetle

The japanese rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) is a massive beetle about the size of the palm of a hand. It's distinguished by its long Y-shaped horn, which it uses to fight other males with. It's a nocturnal bug that feeds on sap and sweet fruits. This species is sometimes kept as a pet due to its unique appearance and simple care requirements.

Read More
Arrow
Silkworm
Silkworm

The silken threads produced by silkworm during its larval stage have been highly coveted for millennia, manifesting as a luxurious fabric in human society. Remarkably, this creature has a singular diet, feeding exclusively on the leaves of its primary host plant from which it extracts the necessary nutrients to facilitate its transition into a non-feeding, winged adult.

Read More
Arrow
Menelaus blue morpho
Menelaus blue morpho

Menelaus blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) is a gorgeous butterfly with large, royal blue wings. Linnaeus named the genus Morpho the Aphrodite-Ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty for its extreme beauty. It is native to tropical rainforests. Though many butterfly gardens now cultivate them in captivity, there are still many people who never get a chance to see them.

Read More
Arrow
Atlas moth
Atlas moth

While the atlas moth (Attacus atlas) can't tell you where to find your country on the map, it does earn its name through other means. It is one of the largest moths in the world, with a wingspan that is far larger than its body, creating an abnormal comparison. In India, their silk is gathered in a non-commercial capacity and is considered to be more durable than the domestic silkworm.

Read More
Arrow
Flying peacock spider
Flying peacock spider

Both sexes reach about 5 mm in body length. Females and immatures of both sexes are brown but have color patterns by which they can be distinguished from related species. Also, the males dance to attract females.

Read More
Arrow
Multicolored asian ladybeetle
Multicolored asian ladybeetle

Often confused for the ladybug, multicolored asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a separate species that, unlike the ladybug, is a household pest. It is considered particularly annoying for its habit of returning to places from which it is removed. One of the most variable species in the world, there are many different colors and patterns multicolored asian ladybeetle may display, making identification potentially difficult.

Read More
Arrow