This female Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita) has captured a just-emerged damselfly of unknown species. She is eating it, as these serious inch-long predators will do. The teneral damselfly, meaning one that has just emerged from the exuvia, is ghostly pale; its exoskeleton has not yet hardened and it’s coloring/patterning has not developed. This is when adult damselflies are at their most vulnerable. 
The husk or exuvia of the aquatic larval stage of the damsel is on the underside of the twig. 
Here’s another exuvia. The larva or nymphs crawl out of the water, grasp onto something, and shazam! 
And here’s a teneral. I think it’s a Fragile Forktail. It looks like a mayfly in weak, fluttery flight.
Not So Fragile Forktail
6 responses to “Not So Fragile Forktail”
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Fascinating. ‘Ghostly pale’ is a great description of the teneral damselfly – new vocabulary for me! My thought upon first glance – ‘So ephemeral.’ Which indeed it was. Thanks for sharing.
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Hungry little predator to take on a meal almost as big as she is! Wonder if she’s visited Coney island lately?
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Lots of predators at Coney?
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Thinking more of the people who pig out in hotdog eating contests.
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Yeech! That thing is disgusting, as is the entire concept of “competitive eating.”
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Totally agree. Sickening, even.
Backyard and Beyond 
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