What's the difference between dragonflies and damselflies?
- Dragonflies and damselfies are in the order Odonata but form different suborders - Anisoptera and Zgoptera respectively.
- A key difference between the two is that, when at rest, as pictured above, a damselfly will have their wings folded along their bodies while dragonflies will gold them out flat, as if flying.
- Damselflies are generally thinner and lighter than dragonflies.
- Both have two pairs of wings which are of equal size in damselflies and in dragonflies, the hindwings are longer than the forewings.
- Damselflies have two separate eyes which are not touching. In dragonflies, the large eyes take up most of the head.
- Damselflies are usually only seen on or very near water. Dragonflies can be found further away.