The Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata) is a tiny damselfly of grassy, wet areas. This is really a tiny creature and care must be used to see it as it easily escapes notice. It often flies very slowly among grass stems where it can seem to vanish before your eyes. The species occurs throughout the southern and eastern areas of the U.S. as well as parts of the southwest to California. The photos here, of a male (green with yellow abdomen) and female (pale orange) were digital captures in the Angelina National Forest, Angelina Co., Texas in May 2003 and were shot with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 300 mm F4 L IS lens with a 1.4 extender and 550 EX flash.

The male Citrine Forktail on the left and the female just below were at Pena Blanca Lake, Santa Cruz Co., Arizona, in May, 2008. These shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.