Damselfly
Ischnura sp.
A slender-waisted needle-threader by the water's edge
Damselflies are slender-bodied, with an abdomen as thin as a needle. At rest they fold all four wings upright over the back, unlike dragonflies, which perch with wings flat; their compound eyes are also set apart. Weak fliers, they dart short distances among waterside plants, catching small flying insects.
Key figures
- Length
- About 25–35 mm long, slender-bodied, with a needle-thin abdomen
- Life cycle
- In warm regions several generations occur each year; the adult stage lasts a few weeks
- Habitat
- Among aquatic plants in ponds, ditches, and along streams
- Diet
- Nymphs prey on small aquatic invertebrates; adults catch small flying insects such as mosquitoes and flies
- Resting posture
- At rest all four wings fold upright over the back, unlike dragonflies, which perch with wings held flat
- Flight
- A weak flier, darting short distances among waterside plants rather than cruising long range
Life cycle
Egg → Nymph (aquatic) → Adult
Ecological role
Damselfly nymphs are active small predators in the water, while adults hunt flying insects such as mosquitoes among waterside vegetation, forming an important link between aquatic and terrestrial food chains.
Did you know
Damselfly nymphs live underwater, trailing three leaf-shaped gills that double as a tail fin; dragonfly nymphs lack these, breathing instead through the rectum, which doubles as a jet-propulsion system.
Range
Most freshwater habitats in China, widespread across temperate to tropical Asia
Status
Common
Anatomy
- Wings — At rest all four wings fold upright over the back; dragonflies, by contrast, typically perch with their wings held flat
- Compound eyes — The compound eyes sit apart on either side of the head; in dragonflies they nearly touch and merge into one
- Abdomen — The needle-thin abdomen is the most obvious feature distinguishing damselflies from dragonflies
- Thorax — The thorax is tilted, bearing two pairs of wings and three pairs of slender legs
- Legs — The long, spiny legs fold together in flight to catch small flying insects
- Antennae — The antennae are short and inconspicuous, far less important for sensing than the compound eyes
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