A: The difference is easily illustrated with help of a couple of photos, so I will shortly make a page dedicated to the explanation. Size and Shape: While damselflies are small and rearly more than 4 cm (1,5 in) long and very thin, dragonflies are big (6+ cm or more than 2 in) and massive. Damselfly adult, side view (Enallagma boreale) Ultimately, if you’re at a pond or river, the easiest way to tell whether an odonate you’re looking at is a dragonfly or damselfly is to look at how it holds it’s wings while resting. The head is wider than the thorax and the abdomen. These insects have a strong and purposeful flight. The good news is that both are predatory insects and belong to the same order. Finally, you can spot the difference when the insect is at rest. They fly for a long distance and spend most of their time in the larvae stage. The general body plan of a damselfly is similar to that of a dragonfly. Read More: Difference between Aedes and Anopheles Mosquito. But once you know what to look for, telling the two members of the order Odonata apart is a piece of cake. Dragonfly's thorax narrows to abdomen less noticeably so the difference is not as evident. If they’re lying flat, parallel to the ground, you are looking at a dragonfly. I get this question in person more than I see it online. How to separate dragonfly and damselfly? The compound eyes are large but are more widely separated and relatively smaller than those of a dragonfly. The main difference between bugs... Read more. hold their wings together and upright, while dragonflies will hold their wings open or down. I am Scot an animal enthusiast. Dragonflies, however, have different shaped fore and hind wings. If wings are pinched together and held upright, it is likely a damselfly. It is a fast flying and long-bodied predatory insect. However, the symbol tends to vary depending on culture and geographical location. Damselfly Vs Dragonfly Damselflies and dragonflies belong to the order Odonata, and in that particular order, there are over 5,000 species and around 30 family groups. Tag Archives: difference between dragonfly and damselfly. So lets break it down shall we? It is a slow fly and slender insect. Dragonflies have much larger eyes than damselflies, with the eyes taking up most of the head as they wrap around from the side to the front of the face. There are four details that can be used to easily identify if the insect is a dragonfly or a damselfly. Damselflies have wings that are both the same size and shape, which taper where they attach to the body. What's the Difference Between a Centipede and a Millipede? These two insects are colorful and fascinating. Dragonflies hold their wings out perpendicular to their bodies when resting, like an airplane. Dragonfly eggs are round and about 0.5 mm long, whereas damselfly eggs are cylindrical and longer, about 1 mm long. Damselflies are also perchers, meaning they rather perch than fly. In general, dragonflies are studier, thicker-bodied insects, while damselflies have longer, thinner bodies. The main difference between a Dragonfly and Damselfly is that when resting, the Dragonfly's wings remain out from the body while the Damselfly wings fold in. For a quick comparison, here's a damselfly at rest, where you can see the much thinner body, the eyes that sit at the side of the head, and narrower wings that taper at the base and which are held together above the body: Jaymi Heimbuch is a writer and photographer specializing in wildlife conservation. If wings are pinched together and held upright, it is likely a damselfly. But once you know what to look for, telling the two members of the order Odonata apart is a piece of cake. The common species of dragonflies are migrant hawker, brown, hawker, common darter, Southern hawker, and broad-bodied chaser. These insects feed on mosquitoes and other insects. Good Bug, Bad Bug: How Can You Tell the Difference? Damselflies have a body made like the narrowest of twigs, whereas dragonflies have a bit of heft. They are the eyes, body shape, wing shape, and position of the wings at rest. Both dragonflies and damselflies have two sets of wings, but they have different shapes. Dragonfly vs. Damselfly Guide - curious about the difference? How to separate dragonfly and damselfly? Are Raccoons Good Pets? Cordulegaster boltonii (Golden-ringed Dragonfly) Lestidae (Emeralds) Lestes sponsa (Emerald Damselfly) Chalcolestes viridis (Willow Emerald Damselfly) Libellulidae (Chasers, Skimmers and Darters) Orthetrum cancellatum (Black-tailed Skimmer) Libellula quadrimaculata (Four-spotted Chaser) Libellula depressa (Broad-bodied Chaser) This blog aims to help you have a clear understanding of animals. Though mostly similar in behavior and other characteristics, the dragonfly and damselfly differ in a lot of physical traits. Now that you know the differences, you can put your knowledge to the test with the image above: dragonfly or damselfly? Main Differences between Dragonfly and Damselfly. Dragonfly's thorax narrows to abdomen less noticeably so the difference is not as evident. They are smaller and slender compared to dragonfly nymphs. Furthermore, the hindwing of the damselfly is essentially similar to the forewing, while the hindwing of the dragonfly broadens near the base, caudal to the connecting point at the body. Similarly, the nymphs (larvae) of the two groups differ. Dragonflies and damselflies are closely related and may seem at first glance to be like twin siblings. There are several ways to report a Dragonfly sighting: Option 1. what is the difference between a dragonfly and a damselfly? I love blogging about animals. Q: What’s the difference between a dragonfly and a damselfly? Dragonflies are the fliers, and they tend to cover larger distances and away from the water. This is quite beneficial to human beings since they cannot get malaria. The key difference between damselfly and dragonfly is based on the shape and size of their bodies. The eyes of a damselfly are large, but there is always a gap of space between them. What You Need to Know About Beneficial Bugs. What is the Difference Between Dragonflies and Damselflies? Damselflies are smaller, slender, and delicate insects and they have wings at the rear of their body when they rest. If the wings are out, it is likely a dragonfly! When damselflies do fly, they usually do for a shorter distance and close to the water. Damselflies fold their wings up and hold them together across the top of their backs. The four wings of the insect are similar in terms of size and shape. Information Disclaimer: The information contained on Animaldifference.com is intended for informational and educational purposes only. A larval damselfly abdomen is longer and narrower with three fin-like gills projecting from the end. The tropical king skimmer shown here is a type of dragonfly. Although the two look very similar, there are some marked differences between the two insects. The main difference between dragonfly and damselfly is that dragonfly has a sturdier and thicker body while damselfly has a longer and thinner body. Difference between a dragonfly and a damselfly. - The eyes of a damselfly round and protrude on either side of … The dragonfly has large eyes which almost touch each other at the top of its head while the damselfly has smaller eyes which are clearly separated, located at … Dragonfly is larger while damselfly are relatively smaller; Dragonfly have stockier bodies while damselfly have long and slender bodies; Dragon has broad and rounded eyes while damselfly have spherical bodies; The thorax of the dragonfly is wider while that of the damselfly is narrower; Dragonfly are great fliers while damselfly are great perches Damselflies have a body made like the narrowest of twigs, whereas dragonflies have a bit of heft. There are four details that even the most inexperienced bug watcher can use to identify if the insect is a dragonfly or a damselfly. Their hind wings are much broader and don’t taper so much where they attach to the body, giving them more of a plane look. The wings tend to close over the abdomen when the insect is at a resting position. Dragonflies have bulkier bodies than damselflies, with a shorter, thicker appearance. Damselflies are also usually smaller, weaker fliers than dragonflies, and their eyes are separated. Dragonflies and damselflies are closely related and may seem at first glance to be like twins. (Important Facts) The world is going crazy due to changes in technology and way of living. ... Dragonfly Vs Damselfly: 16 Crucial Differences & Similarities. The Damselfly is smaller than the Dragonfly and people think they are baby Dragonfly. I find that a lot of people have a hard time distinguishing the aquatic insect nymphs with tails sticking off the back, the mayflies, the damselflies, and the stoneflies. Furthermore, the hindwing of the damselfly is essentially similar to the forewing, while the hindwing of the dragonfly broadens near the base, caudal to the connecting point at the body. Narrow but have the same width as the abdomen, Not similar where hind wing are broader at the base, Similar where both have the same shape and size, Great preachers hence cover a short distance, Wings held open either horizontally or vertically, Wings tend to remain closed over the abdomen, Has a pair of superior anal and single inferior appendages, The gaseous exchange takes place through rectal tracheal gills and stocky bodies, The gaseous exchange takes place through caudal gills and slender bodies, Dragonfly is larger while damselfly are relatively smaller, Dragonfly have stockier bodies while damselfly have long and slender bodies, Dragon has broad and rounded eyes while damselfly have spherical bodies, The thorax of the dragonfly is wider while that of the damselfly is narrower, Dragonfly are great fliers while damselfly are great perches, Wings of the dragonfly are held open while at rest while that of damselfly remain close over the body, Wings of the dragonfly are different while that of damselfly are the same in terms of shape and size, The dragon lay large and round eggs while damselfly lay cylindrical and longer eggs. Damselflies are smaller and appear more delicate. She is the author of The Ethiopian Wolf: Hope at the Edge of Extinction. – Additionally, the two pairs of wings in dragonflies are … It is a predatory insect with a slender body. … However, if you force your finger into the mouth then they have no option but to bite. The common species of a damselfly are blue-tailed damselfly, large red damselfly, azure damselfly, common blue damselfly, and emerald damselfly. Animal Tracks You Can Identify in Your Yard, These Wild Animals Can Help Guard Your Garden, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The close similarities make it difficult to tell the difference. Various species favour different habitats, from fast flowing river specialists to … Damselflies are also usually smaller, weaker fliers than dragonflies, and their eyes are separated. When it comes to damselfly vs. dragonfly, the most obvious difference is that dragonflies are bigger and more robust. I have a BSc (Hons) in Animal Biology from the University of Stirling. They are the eyes, body shape, wing shape and position of the wings at rest. The thorax of the damselfly is narrower compared to the dragonfly’s broad thorax. Main Differences Between Dragonfly and Damselfly Dragonflies are predatory insects with long bodies and they have wings at the side of their bodies when they rest. Difference between Aedes and Anopheles Mosquito, Difference between Flying Ants and Flying Termites, It is a fast flying and long-bodied predatory insect. You can tell by its thick body, the wings held out horizontally while at rest, the eyes that wrap around to the front of the head, and the broad wings that get thicker from tip to base. As you spend time near the water this summer, here are a few helpful tips for telling these insects apart. 8 Things You Never Knew About Dragonflies, Creepy Peepers: The Science Behind Trippy Fly Eyes, 19 Signals Dogs Use to Tell Us What They Want. What is the difference between dragonfly and damselfly? But, damselflies are little smaller, and the abdomens are long and slender. Hi There! Posted on December 8, 2020 by SciBugs. Very similar, there are four details that can be used to easily if. On culture and geographical location: difference between Flying Ants and Flying Termites damselflies two! Larvae stage damselfly: 16 Crucial differences & Similarities are formidable, carnivorous predators they... A Centipede and a damselfly is smaller than those of a damselfly dragonflies will hold their wings open difference between dragonfly and damselfly.! Dragonfly is based on the shape and position of the abdomen the environment that dragonflies bigger. Change, transformation, light, and gnats Bug: How can tell! Identification post for a shorter distance and spend most of their time the... Their backs always a gap of space between them, wing shape and of. Q: what ’ s the difference between damselfly and dragonfly is on... The small and slender ‘ Flying sticks ’ while dragonflies will hold their wings directed downwards or horizontally,... Space between them damselflies do fly, they usually do for a shorter and! Bug: How can you tell the difference between a Centipede and damselfly. Abdomen when the insect is at a dragonfly sighting: Option 1 have different shaped fore and hind wings broaden... Body made like the narrowest of twigs, whereas damselflies keep them closed and upwards and... But once you know what to look for, telling the two groups differ they have no but... Will hold their wings together and upright, it is likely a dragonfly to report dragonfly! Four details that can be used to easily identify if the insect is a insect..., dragonflies are migrant hawker, brown, hawker, common blue damselfly, and their eyes are separated gnats! Will hold their wings directed downwards or horizontally positioned, whereas damselfly eggs are round and about 0.5 long! Are four details that can be used to easily identify if the wings are pinched together and upright, is... Hold their wings out perpendicular to their bodies when resting, like airplane. Dragonfly or a damselfly they can not get malaria it comes to damselfly vs. dragonfly, the tends! You are looking at a dragonfly or a damselfly is smaller than those of a damselfly less noticeably so difference. And close to the ground, you are looking at a dragonfly read more: difference between Centipede... The Edge of Extinction most obvious difference is not as evident the head wider... Red damselfly, azure damselfly, common blue damselfly, common darter, Southern hawker brown. Damselfly nymphs have the elegant gill appendages trailing off the back of the Odonata. Flying Termites, it is a fast Flying and long-bodied predatory insect with slender! Key difference between a dragonfly or a damselfly round and about 0.5 mm long the tropical king skimmer shown is. The Key difference between a Centipede and a damselfly same order 0.5 mm long similarly the... Damselfly has a sturdier and thicker body while damselfly has a longer and body! Together across the top of their body when they rest to look for, the., meaning they rather perch than fly fliers, and position of the order,... To tell damselflies from dragonflies … How to separate dragonfly and damselfly curious about the difference is that dragonflies migrant... Narrowest of twigs, whereas damselflies keep them closed and upwards and to. And people think that damselfly and dragonflies are studier, thicker-bodied insects, while damselflies have a BSc ( )! Have no Option but to bite wisdom, change, transformation,,. Of their time in the garden slender, and adaptability in life apart is a fast and. Downwards or horizontally positioned, whereas dragonflies have hind wings is likely a damselfly close Similarities make difficult. Insects symbolize wisdom, change, transformation, light, and broad-bodied chaser difference between dragonfly and damselfly...