Table of Contents
What are damselflies good for?
Damselflies are extremely beautiful, beneficial predators because they help control populations of harmful insects. Adults consume large quantities of other insects such as flies, mosquitoes and moths and some eat beetles and caterpillars.
Why is it called a damselfly?
Zygoptera (damselflies) means “equal winged,” while Anisoptera (dragonflies) means “unequal winged.” When they are not flying, damselflies usually hold their wings up over their backs (with the exception of spread-winged damsels), but dragonflies hold their wings open and to the sides.
Which of these is important in distinguishing characteristics damselflies from dragonflies?
Also, dragonflies do not have hinges enabling them to fold their wings together when resting, though damselflies do. This feature of the wings is the key morphological feature distinguishing adult dragonflies from damselflies.
How long do damselflies live for?
The small damselflies live for a couple of weeks as free-flying adults. The larger dragonflies can live for 4 months in their flying stage. In Britain, lucky Damsel adults seldom manage more than two weeks and Dragons more than two months. Most Damsels rarely go more than a week, and Dragons two or three weeks.
Why are dragonflies so friendly?
Dragonflies Are Beneficial to People Dragonflies help humans by controlling populations of pest insects, especially those that threaten us most, such as mosquitoes and biting flies.
Do damselflies have four wings?
Wings. Both dragonflies and damselflies have two sets of wings, but there are some distinct differences in their wings that can help differentiate between the two. Dragonflies have two sets of similar-sized wings, but the hind wings become more broad at the base, where they attach to the body.
Do damselflies have two wings?
What is the difference between a dragonfly and damselfly?
Damselflies have wings that are both the same size and shape, which taper where they attach to the body. Dragonflies, however, have different shaped fore and hind wings. 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.
What do damselflies mean spiritually?
What is this? But just like dragonflies, damselflies also have deep spiritual and symbolic meanings. A damselfly tends to symbolize purity, protection, and equality. The meanings and symbols associated with seeing a damselfly in real life are generally positive.
What do damselflies turn into?
The adult emerges This is the final stage in the metamorphosis of a damselfly. The nymph (young insect) has grown up living in the water. Now it is big enough to shed its skin for the last time and transform into a flying adult.
How do you take care of a damselfly?
Immediate care and handling Include some aquatic plants or sticks that extend above the water line, as the nymphs will need to crawl out of the water to emerge as adults. The nymphs keep satisfactorily at 10 to 31° C (51 to 87° F). Do not place them in direct sunlight.
Can damselflies breathe underwater?
Damselfly nymphs have three feather-like gills (for breathing under water) at the end of their abdomens.
What happens if a dragonfly bites you?
They do, however, have teeth. So a bite is possible. Dragonflies aren’t an aggressive insect, but they can bite out of self-defense when they feel threatened. The bite isn’t dangerous, and in most cases, it won’t break human skin.