# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Damselflies](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Common_blue_damselfly02.jpg&width=800) Photo: Fir0002, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Common_blue_damselfly02.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Coenagrionidae - **Genus:** Zygoptera ## 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 - **Wing-Folder:** Damselflies can fold their delicate wings neatly over their body when resting, which helps them squeeze into tight spaces for protection. - **Underwater Hunter:** Damselfly nymphs possess a special hinged lower jaw (labium) that shoots out rapidly to snatch unsuspecting aquatic prey. - **Agile Flyer:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-green-darner) (*Anax junius*) — Larger dragonflies like this species prey on smaller damselflies. - **Eaten by:** [Green Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-frog) (*Rana clamitans*) — Frogs often ambush adult damselflies resting near water. - **Eaten by:** [Northern Pike](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-pike) (*Esox lucius*) — Fish, like pike, consume damselfly nymphs in aquatic environments. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Damselflies are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Damselflies? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Damselflies's wingspan? 25-80 mm ### How big is Damselflies? 20-70 mm ### How long does Damselflies live? 365-1095 days ### How fast can Damselflies fly? 10 km/h ### What does Damselflies eat? Tiny hunters, they feast on small insects caught in the air or water. ### Where is Damselflies usually found? Wetlands ### How does Damselflies hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Madison Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/madison-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Kootenay Lake Provincial Park - Midge Creek Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kootenay-lake-provincial-park-midge-creek-site) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Sooke Mountain Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sooke-mountain-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Damselflies](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/damselflies) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Damselflies: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/damselflies)