# Narrow-Winged Damselflies (*coenagrionidae*) Narrow-Winged Damselflies are colorful insects that flutter around ponds and streams. They have long, slender bodies and delicate wings that can be seen sparkling in the sunlight! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Habitat:** They live near freshwater habitats such as ponds, lakes, and streams. - **Also known as:** Blue Damselfly, Common Damselfly ![Narrow-Winged Damselflies](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ceriagrion_glabrum_male_panorama.jpg&width=800) Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim, GFDL 1.2 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ceriagrion_glabrum_male_panorama.jpg) ## Appearance The Narrow-Winged Damselflies has a very slender body, often adorned with vibrant blue, green, or black patterns. Their four clear wings are held neatly folded together along their back when at rest, a key feature distinguishing them from their dragonfly cousins. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Coenagrionidae ## Interesting facts - Baby damselflies, called nymphs, live underwater for months and breathe through gills! - Many damselflies are like flying jewels, shimmering with bright metallic blue or green colors! - Their huge eyes are made of thousands of tiny lenses, giving them amazing all-around vision! - They perform an acrobatic "dance" during mating, sometimes even flying in tandem! ## Special abilities - **Aerobatic Hunter:** Narrow-Winged Damselflies can dart and weave quickly through the air because of their independently moving wings that help them catch tiny prey. - **Omnidirectional Vision:** Narrow-Winged Damselflies has large compound eyes that help them detect movement from almost every direction, aiding hunting and escape. - **Underwater Hunter (Larvae):** Narrow-Winged Damselflies larvae can ambush prey in water using a specialized extendable lower jaw that helps them grab passing insects. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 30-50 mm - **Size:** 20-40 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 10 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Tiny insects are the main meal for these agile flyers. - **Age differences:** Larvae ambush aquatic invertebrates, while adults actively pursue flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** Mosquitoes, Gnats, Midges, Small flies, Aphids - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Helps control mosquito populations near water sources. - **Eaten by:** [American Bullfrog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bullfrog) (*Lithobates catesbeianus*) — A common prey item for larger amphibians near ponds. - **Shelter:** White Willow (*Salix alba*) — Often rests on leaves and branches along stream banks. ## 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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Narrow-Winged 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 Narrow-Winged Damselflies's wingspan? 30-50 mm ### How big is Narrow-Winged Damselflies? 20-40 mm ### How long does Narrow-Winged Damselflies live? 30-60 days ### How fast can Narrow-Winged Damselflies fly? 10 km/h ### What does Narrow-Winged Damselflies eat? Tiny insects are the main meal for these agile flyers. ### Where is Narrow-Winged Damselflies usually found? They live near freshwater habitats such as ponds, lakes, and streams. ### How does Narrow-Winged Damselflies hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Lake Underhill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-underhill-park) — Florida, US · Park ## 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: [Narrow-Winged Damselflies: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/narrow-winged-damselflies)