damselflies

Damselflies are slender, flying insects in the suborder Zygoptera of the order Odonata. They are closely related to dragonflies but have distinguishing features: most damselflies rest with their wings held together above the abdomen or slightly open, whereas dragonflies typically hold their wings flat and away from the body. Damselflies also have eyes that are widely separated on the head, in contrast to the often touching eyes of many dragonflies. They are found worldwide, especially near freshwater habitats such as ponds, streams, and wetlands, where they hunt and reproduce.

Adults are agile predators, feeding on small flying insects such as mosquitoes and flies. They have long, slender bodies and two pairs of similar wings, enabling precise aerial maneuvering. Males and females often engage in territorial and courtship behaviors; mating typically occurs in a tandem position followed by the formation of a wheel in which the male transfers sperm to the female’s secondary genitalia before she receives it.

Eggs are laid in or near aquatic vegetation; larvae, called naiads, are aquatic and predatory. Damselfly naiads possess three leaf-like caudal gills at the tip of the abdomen for respiration and capture prey using an extendable mask-like mouthpart. Naiads can live for weeks to years depending on species and conditions, eventually emerging as winged adults in a process called incomplete metamorphosis.

Taxonomy and conservation: damselflies comprise several families, including Coenagrionidae (narrow-winged damselflies), Calopterygidae (broad-winged), and Lestidae, among others. They are useful indicators of freshwater quality and biodiversity. Threats include habitat loss, pollution, and climate change, with some local populations monitored or protected.