# 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! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Small Red-eyed Damselfly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Kleines_Granatauge_%28Erythromma_viridulum%29_female.jpg&width=800) Photo: Darkone ( talk · contribs ), CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kleines_Granatauge_%28Erythromma_viridulum%29_female.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Coenagrionidae - **Genus:** Erythromma ## 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 - **Binocular Vision:** Small Red-eyed Damselfly has huge red eyes that help them spot tiny insects from a distance. - **Nimble Flight:** Small Red-eyed Damselfly can dart and hover precisely, allowing them to catch fast-moving prey in mid-air. - **Underwater Breathing:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](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. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [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. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [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 While damselflies are harmless, it's best to watch them from a distance and not try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Small Red-eyed Damselfly? 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 Small Red-eyed Damselfly's wingspan? 30-40 mm ### How big is Small Red-eyed Damselfly? 25-30 mm ### How long does Small Red-eyed Damselfly live? 14-28 days ### How fast can Small Red-eyed Damselfly fly? 7 km/h ### What does Small Red-eyed Damselfly eat? They are fierce hunters, eating many tiny flying insects and also insect larvae found in water. ### Where is Small Red-eyed Damselfly usually found? Wetlands ### How does Small Red-eyed Damselfly hunt? Pursuit ## 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: [Small Red-eyed Damselfly: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/small-red-eyed-damselfly)