Damselfly

Damselfly
(CC) Photo: Marko Kivelä Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia (animals) Phylum: Arthropoda (arthropods) Subphylum: Hexapoda (hexapods) Class: Insecta (insects) Subclass: Pterygota Infraclass: Palaeoptera (paleoptera) Order: Odonata (odonates) Suborder: Zygoptera (damselflies) Selys, 1854
Families
Amphipterygidae Calopterygidae (broad-wings) Chlorocyphidae Coenagrionidae (pond damsels) Dicteriadidae Euphaeidae Hemiphlebidae Isosticidae Lestidae (spreadwings) Lestoididae Megapodagrionidae Perilestidae Platycnemididae Platystictidae Polythoridae Protoneuridae (threadtails) Pseudostigmatidae Synlestidae †Zacallitidae

(CC) Photo: Igor Grešovnik
A damselfly (species Coenagrion puella) eating its catch on a leaf.

Damselfly is the an insect of the Suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. It is characterized by an elongated body, two pairs of wings with hindwing being essentially similar to the forewing, and large, separated multifaceted eyes. In most species, the wings are held along the body when at rest, which distinguishes damseflies from dragonflies. Damselflies are also usually smaller (in particular with notably thinner abdomen) and weaker fliers than dragonflies.

Bibliography

Charles W. Heckman. Encyclopedia of South American Aquatic Insects: Odonata -Zygoptera: Illustrated Keys to Known Families, Genera, and Species in South America. Springer, 2008. ISBN 978-1402081750.

Steve Brooks, Richard Lewington. Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland. British Wildlife Publishing, 1997. ISBN 978-0953139903.

Richard E. White, Donald J. Borror, Roger Tory Peterson. A Field Guide to Insects. Houghton Mifflin, 1998. ISBN 978-0395911709.

Integrated Taxonomic Information System.

Integrated Taxonomic Information System.