What's the difference between
a damselfly
and a dragonfly?

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.
  
  

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