They also have very large eyes. Adult damselflies have a long and slender abdomen, two pairs of wings and three pairs of long legs. Adult damselflies live near streams, lakes and ponds. The larvae live in streams, lakes and ponds among plants and rocks. Adult damselflies eat mainly flying insects. Larvae eat insects in the water, worms, and occasionally small fish.
Adult damselflies breathe by drawing air into special breathing tubes in their bodies. These tubes are called spiracles. Many damselflies have brilliant, gemlike colors. Damselfly Larvae. Field Guide Aquatic Invertebrates. Butterflies and Moths. Land Invertebrates. Reptiles and Amphibians. Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines. Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants. Scientific Name. There are 4 North American families of damselflies in the order Odonata dragonflies and damselflies.
Common Name Synonyms. Habitat and Conservation Damselfly nymphs are common residents of marshes, ponds, lakes, streams, and other aquatic habitats. They crawl among submerged plants and rocks and along the bottoms, searching for prey. They can also swim, by undulating their bodies. Because the larvae are aquatic and the eggs are laid in the water, adult damselflies ordinarily are not found far from water. Their fast flight, however, can take them many places.
Adults are usually seen in the warmest parts of the year. Food Damselfly nymphs are lie-in-wait predators resting quietly on the substrate or a submerged plant.
Damselfly adults hold their legs in a basket shape during flight, which is perfect for grasping the small flying insects they eat. Status Six Missouri damselflies are Species of Conservation Concern and thus are vulnerable to becoming extirpated from our state: the eastern red damsel Amphiagrion saucium , Paiute dancer Argia alberta , sphagnum sprite Nehalennia gracilis , sedge sprite N. Yes, damselfly mating is quite interesting, especially for the female. First, the male clasps her behind the head with special claspers at the end of his abdomen, fitting into the space perfectly—like a key in a lock.
Then the female bends her body upward to grasp the male with her clasping organs at the end of her abdomen. Before transferring his sperm to her, he scoops out any remaining sperm of rival damselflies. Damselflies like dragonflies DO have antenna. They are just so short most people never notice them. This last one especially might give cause for alarm, but not to worry, these insects are harmless and do not sting or bite—unless of course you are a mosquito, fly, or other insect.
A cool fact that I just learned recently is that the female of many species of damselflies actually goes UNDER water to lay her eggs! She crawls down the stem of some submerged vegetation and will cut small holes in the plant stem where she will lay her eggs.
All the while down there she is able to breathe because of oxygen surrounding her body and wings. When she is done, she travels back to the surface and then must be able to take off again into the air. Many damselflies become fish food during these tense moments. Their eggs hatch in weeks and will stay in the water as nymphs for 2 months up to 3 years, depending on the species.
They will go through 15 molts before finally crawling up a plant stem or rock and emerging from their nymphal skin as an adult with wings.
This is an amazing thing to witness! I have seen it a few times in my lifetime, and am always blow away by it. Next time I see it, I will make a point to film it so I can feature it here on my blog! Have you ever been lucky enough to witness this? As nymphs they have 3 feathery-looking appendages at the ends of their bodies—these are their gills. Dragonfly nymphs have internal gills.
Check out this video of a damselfly emerging as an adult! WOW, spectacular!
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