By Dr. Robert Norman
While hiking recently at Moccasin Lake Park in Clearwater, I spotted a flying insect landing on a nearby plant. I was exploring for lichens, one of my new passions, and spotted the little beauty.
Was it a dragonfly of a damselfly? How do you tell the difference?
Members of the insect order Odonata include not only the true dragonflies but also the closely related group known as damselflies. The order includes roughly 5,900 species, of which about 3,000 are dragonflies (suborder Epiprocta, infraorder Anisoptera), and about 2,600 are damselflies (suborder Zygoptera).
Here are some key differences to observe between Dragonflies and Damselflies:
Dragonfly
Most have eyes that touch, or nearly touch, at the top of the head
Body is usually stocky
Wing shape—dissimilar wing pairs, with hind wings broader at the base
Position at rest—wings held open, horizontally or downward
Damselfly
Eyes are clearly separated, usually appearing to each side of the head
Body is usually long and slender
All wings are similar in shape
Position at rest—wings held closed, usually over the abdomen
Although dragonflies and damselflies share many characteristics, including membranous wings, large eyes, slender bodies, and small antennae, there are also clear differences between dragonflies and damselflies as noted above. After you learn the obvious differences such as eyes, body, wings, and resting position, you should find it fairly easy to tell these wonderful insects apart. When you become a more serious student of the odonates, you can begin to learn the subtle differences in wing cells and abdominal appendages.
Both dragonflies and damselflies can be observed in a wide range of sizes and colors. Damselflies have the widest range of sizes. Wingspans can range from about 3/4 inch (19 mm) in some small species to 7 1/2 inches (19 cm) in larger species. Colors range from dull to brightly metallic hues of greens and blues.
Both dragonflies and damselflies lay their eggs in or near water. Hatched larvae go through a series of molts as they grow. As they move toward the adult stage, they begin predatory feeding on the larvae of other insects and on small aquatic animals. The larvae themselves also serve as an important food source for fish, amphibians, and birds. Depending on the species, larval dragonflies and damselflies reach adulthood in as little as three weeks or as long as eight years. Although they do not go through a pupal stage, the insects begin to develop wings, which emerge as useable flight organs after the last molt of the larval stage. The adult flying stage can last as long as nine months and is marked by predatory feeding on other insects, mating, and finally laying eggs in water or moist, boggy areas. Adult-stage insects consume large quantities of mosquitoes, gnats, and other biting insects.
On close inspection during my hike, I saw that the wings of the insect were held closed, the eyes were clearly separated, and the body long and slender. A wonderful damselfly.
Where can you find these amazing creatures? Get out and look for them in The Great Florida Outdoors!