Ramburs Forktail Damselfly (Ischnura ramburii)

This delicate Damselfly is widely distributed throughout North and Central America and down the west coast of South America as far as Peru and Chile.

There are two distinct forms or female, one which looks similar to the male (green with a light brown/black abdomen, except the abdominal segments 8 and 9, which are blue) and this Orange form.

I think we can agree, even without the other female form to compare with, this is the prettier!

Its preferred habitats include coastal plain ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow-flowing rivers or streams, often with brackish water.

Rambur's Forktail often perches on bare ground and flies along open shorelines, while most forktail species prefer to find shelter in low, dense vegetation along shorelines.