Damselflies -- They Are Not Dragonflies

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Zygoptera

Damselflies undergo incomplete metamorphosis, with an aquatic nymphal stage. The female lays eggs in water, sometimes in underwater vegetation, or high in trees in bromeliads and other water-filled cavities. Nymphs are carnivorous, feeding on daphnia, mosquito larvae, and various other small aquatic organisms.

The gills of damselfly nymphs are large and external, resembling three fins at the end of the abdomen. After moulting several times, the winged adult emerges and eats flies, mosquitoes, and other small insects.

Some of the larger tropical species are known to feed on spiders, hovering near the web and simply plucking the spider from its perch.

Adults emerge in the spring, summer or fall. They live for a few weeks to a few months and fly mainly during the daytime (diurnal).

Mating is unusual: males deposit sperm in a secondary genitalia structure on the second and third abdominal segment by bending the abdomen forward. The male then clasps the female behind the head with claspers on the tip of his abdomen and mating pairs can be seen flying in tandem.

The female then loops her abdomen forward and picks up the sperm from the male. Eggs are deposited in emergent plants or floating vegetation or directly into the water.

Immature damselflies (naiads) hatch from eggs and live in water. They develop through 10 to 12 immature stages (instars), although there may be more or fewer instars depending on the species and habitat.

The last immature stage crawls out of the water onto vegetation before the adult emerges. Most species have one generation per year. --insects.tamu.edu.

The order Odonata ("toothed ones") includes some of the most ancient and beautiful insects that ever roamed Earth, as well as some of the largest flying invertebrates ever to have lived.

Odonata consists of three groups:
* Anisoptera (which includes dragonflies),
* Zygoptera (which includes damselflies), and
* Anisozygoptera (a relict group represented by only two living species.

This order is very diverse with about 5000 species, and its members are easy to observe. --www.ucmp.berkeley.edu.

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