There are about 300 species of dragonflies and about 130 species of damselflies in North America. Both are found near water and over meadows. The term dragon is derived from the Latin word draco, which means “sharp sighted.”
Dragonflies and damselflies have remarkable eyesight and catch their prey, other insects, on the wing. All developmental stages are predatory. The larvae are aquatic, adults are highly aerial. They go through incomplete or partial metamorphosis. The larvae develop into adults without going through a pupal stage.
The easiest way to distinguish the two is by the way they hold their wings when at rest. Dragonflies hold their wings flat and away from the body whereas damselflies fold their wings over their backs.
Dragonflies have heavier bodies than damselflies. They have large eyes that connect at the top of their heads. The hindwings are broader than the forewings.
“Damselflies could be considered the kid sisters of dragonflies” (Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America, 2007). They are smaller and slenderer than dragonflies. Their eyes are separate and smaller. The forewings and hindwings are of equal size. The males are often brightly colored, while the females are plainer.
