Dragonflies & Damselflies

Introduction: - Dragonflies and Damselflies are one of the most beautiful insects. They are very
colorful and have a very interesting behavior which would attract you towards its beauty.

They are not only beautiful but also very important for our ecosystem. They are very good indicators
of purity of water and air.

Brief History: - The scientific name of Dragonfly is Odonata. The extinct ancestors of dragonflies
developed about 325 million years ago in the carboniferous era.

Difference between Dragonfly and Damselfly:-

Damselfly Dragonfly
Compound Located on either side of head Both the compound eyes are generally
Eyes very close to each other. It is also called
envelop shape eyes

Wings The two pair of wings are almost equal
in shape and size. They usually keep
their wings closed along the body when
at rest.
The hind wings are larger and have a
wider base than the forewings. The
wings are generally open and
horizontally spread and perpendicular
to the body during rest.

Body shape Thin and elongated, Slender bodies Larger and wider in shape, bulky bodies

Appearance

These are some major differences between dragonfly and damselfly. They will help you to identify
them in the field.

The best way to have a better understanding/identification of these flies is by directly observing
them in their natural habitat.