Damselfly

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Damselfly
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Infraclass: Palaeoptera
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Zygoptera
Selys, 1854
(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.