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May 8

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Places to Visit and Explore Nature in Stanley Park Ecosystem Guides: Riparian Stanley Park Visitor Map: with Park Features, Trails, and Destinations Lost Lagoon

Pacific Forktail This Pacific Forktail damselfly is the first of Stanley Park's adult dragonflies to appear in Spring. Newly emerged adults can be found on vegetation growing close to the freshwater home of their larval (nymph) stage. This freshly emerged, pale, soft-bodied (teneral stage) adult will take on its full adult colors after its skin dries and hardens. At this stage the wings are still soft. The insect pumps fluid into the folded wings to expand them and cannot fly until they fully expand, dry and harden. Although delicate in appearance and a weak flier this small damselfly will soon became an accomplished predator of tiny insects and other invertebrates.       Field Guide Entry: Pacific Forktail

Stanley Park Explorer http://www.stanleyparkexplorer.ca Produced by Peter Woods naturalist@stanleyparkexplorer.ca           Revised: May 20, 2011