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| Dances with Damselflies |
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 Not all of the arrow-shaped insects darting around ponds are dragonflies. Some are a close relative, known as the damselfly.
Damselflies and dragonflies belong to the order of insects called Odonata meaning “toothed ones.” Damselflies do not actually have teeth, but their jaws are adapted for amazing biting power. The super strong jaw can jut out from beneath the damselfly’s head and grab the unsuspecting prey before it knows there is danger above.
From Water Nymph to Darting Damsel
Damselflies and dragonflies rely on a source of clean water throughout their life cycle. After mating, the adult female lays her eggs in the water. From the eggs hatch larvae (larve), called nymphs (nimfs). The damselfly nymph has three feathery tails, which are actually gills. These gills help it breathe underwater.
The nymph lives in the water for one year, or as many as six years, slowly growing and changing. Its diet consists of small fish, tadpoles, mosquito larvae, and even other nymphs!
As it grows, the nymph molts (that is, it bursts out of its tight fitting skin) from 6 to 15 times. Finally, after the last molt, the damselfly emerges with wings and legs. Newly transformed adult damselflies are called tenerals and cannot fly right away but have to wait till their body expands and hardens. As they wait the color on their body and wings begin to develop. Teneral adults are very vulnerable and are ripe for the picking. Birds and other predators consume a significant number of young damselflies in the first few days of emergence.
Damsels Versus Dragons
Like the dragonfly, the body of the damselfly is divided into three main parts, the head, the thorax or chest, and the slender abdomen or tail. Both damselflies and dragonflies have two pairs of wings and six legs, all of which are attached to the thorax.
Dragonflies may fly faster with their larger back wings spread straight out at all times, but damselflies have hinged wings, which they can fold while resting.
Another way to tell a damselfly from a dragonfly is by the location of its eyes. Dragonfly eyes touch at the top of the head, but damselfly eyes are separated, on either side of the head. Both dragons and damsels have long lean bodies, but the damselfly’s abdomen appears longer and more slender.
Damselflies can move each wing independently and rotate their wings forward and back. This flexibility enables them to dance in the air, zipping up and down, hovering and flying backwards. Damselflies are also high-speed hunters catching their prey while in flight. Their legs form a basket to make it easier to carry their food. The damselfly is not a picky eater and any insect is fair game.
Damsel Lore and Fast Facts
At one time people believed that damselflies and dragonflies could sew up your mouth with their needle-like bodies.
Damselflies are also called bog dancers.
Large fish are the main predators of nymphs - and for a quick escape the nymph shoots a tiny jet of water from it’s rear-end. That’s one turbo-tush!
The damselfly has huge eyes compared to its slender body. 80% of its brain is dedicated to understanding what it sees through those big peepers.
Damselflies and dragonflies are mighty hunters of insects, but they do not bite humans.
This summer take an opportunity to visit your local Ohio state park and see for yourself how impressive damselflies are. |
From Left to Right: damselfly nymph; close-up of a damselfly wing; the head of a double-striped bluet (damselfly).
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