[Odonata-l] Apparent strongly andromorphic female Eastern Forktail

[Julie A. Craves]

Yesterday while doing an Odonata survey at the Detroit River 
International Wildlife Refuge Humbug Marsh Unit (adjacent to Detroit 
River), Wayne Co., Trenton, MI, I collected an unusual female damselfly.

Vulvar spine and what I can "read" of the prothorax and mesostigmal 
plates under my microscope indicate this is Ischnura verticalis, Eastern 
Forktail. However, I've never seen an illustration of one so strongly 
male-like (bright lime green and black) and the bright blue pattern on 
the dorsal abdomen tip is unlike any I've seen -- on any forktail.

I have posted four photos at
http://urbanodephotos.blogspot.com/2007/07/andromorphic-ischnura-verticalis.html
(http://tinyurl.com/2ouyrz).  I'd appreciate any feedback on this insect.

-- 
Julie A. Craves					
Rouge River Bird Observatory
University of Michigan-Dearborn

http://www.rrbo.org