Damselflies

Zygoptera

Damselflies are beautiful insects that love to flutter around near water. They have long, slender bodies and colorful wings that shimmer in the sunlight.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Damselflies has a slender, delicate body, often brightly colored in iridescent blues, greens, or reds. Unlike dragonflies, their two pairs of equally sized wings are typically held together over their back when at rest. They possess large, widely separated eyes.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyCoenagrionidaeGenusZygoptera

Damselflies

Interesting facts

Baby damselflies, called nymphs, breathe with gills and live underwater for years!

Many male damselflies defend small territories, chasing away rivals in aerial battles!

Some damselfly species can change their color intensity based on temperature or mood!

Their huge, widely separated eyes are compound, giving them nearly 360-degree vision!

Special abilities

Damselflies can fold their delicate wings neatly over their body when resting, which helps them squeeze into tight spaces for protection.

Damselfly nymphs possess a special hinged lower jaw (labium) that shoots out rapidly to snatch unsuspecting aquatic prey.

Damselflies can hover and fly backward, thanks to their independently moving wings, allowing for precise aerial maneuvering.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 25-80 mm
Size: 20-70 mm
Lifespan: 365-1095 days
Flight Speed: 10 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

Tiny hunters, they feast on small insects caught in the air or water.

Age differences: Nymphs hunt aquatic insects underwater, while adults catch flying insects in the air.

Primary Foods

mosquitoes
gnats
midges
small flies
mayfly nymphs

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Mosquito

Culex pipiens

Adult damselflies actively hunt mosquito adults, controlling populations.

eaten by

Common Green Darner

Anax junius

Larger dragonflies like this species prey on smaller damselflies.

eaten by

Green Frog

Rana clamitans

Frogs often ambush adult damselflies resting near water.

eaten by

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

Fish, like pike, consume damselfly nymphs in aquatic environments.

Traits

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Aerial

Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.