Photo 3987385, (c) Brian Gooding, all rights reserved, uploaded by Brian Gooding

Attribution © Brian Gooding
all rights reserved
Uploaded by briangooding briangooding
Source iNaturalist
Associated observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii)

Observer

briangooding

Date

June 11, 2016 10:52 AM CDT

Description

Female Ischnura ramburii eating female I. posita

I heard this struggle before I saw it and was able to move in pretty close. Note the size differential between these congenerics. I have seen other damsels (including I. posita) eat each other but I. ramburii seems to be the damselfly--more than any other in this area--that is witnessed consuming fellow damsels.

It is so aggressive and voracious that it reminds me of Erythemis simplicicollis in the Anisopteran realm--a constant predator indifferently taking similarly-sized prey. It's inspirational in a morbid sort of way. ;)

Taken during the William Blair Jr. Park BioBlitz (http://www.inaturalist.org/projects/william-blair-jr-park-dallas-park).

Sizes
Copyright

2016