Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Erythromma viridulum

The Small Red-eyed Damselfly is a tiny, colorful insect that loves to flutter around water. With its bright red eyes and delicate wings, it looks like a little jewel dancing in the air!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Small Red-eyed Damselfly is a slender insect with distinctive bright red eyes. Males typically have a metallic green body with prominent blue markings on their tail, while females are duller bronze-green. They are easily recognized by their small size and wings folded back over their body when at rest.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyCoenagrionidaeGenusErythromma

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Interesting facts

Males guard their mates by flying together in tandem to protect their eggs.

Their babies, called nymphs, have three leaf-like tails that help them swim.

They spend most of their life underwater as nymphs, sometimes for a year!

Unlike dragonflies, damselflies fold their wings together over their back when resting.

Special abilities

Small Red-eyed Damselfly has huge red eyes that help them spot tiny insects from a distance.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly can dart and hover precisely, allowing them to catch fast-moving prey in mid-air.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly nymphs have feathery gills that help them breathe underwater before becoming adults.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 30-40 mm
Size: 25-30 mm
Lifespan: 14-28 days
Flight Speed: 7 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

They are fierce hunters, eating many tiny flying insects and also insect larvae found in water.

Age differences: Nymphs eat aquatic invertebrates; adults eat flying insects.

Primary Foods

midges
mosquitos
small flies
mayfly larvae
aquatic larvae

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Common Midge

Chironomus plumosus

Adults actively hunt these tiny flying insects.

hunts

Yellow Fever Mosquito

Aedes aegypti

Adults prey on these common flying pests.

hunts

Green Drake Mayfly

Ephemera danica

Nymphs hunt the aquatic larvae of mayflies.

eaten by

Common Frog

Rana temporaria

Adult damselflies can be prey for frogs.

eaten by

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Ducks may feed on adult damselflies near water.

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.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

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.