They are similar to dragonflies, belonging to the same order. The major differences being that damselflies are usually smaller, slimmer and more delicate looking and are able to fold their wings together when they are at rest and their eyes are separated; whereas the wings of the dragonfly remain outstretched when they are at rest and, in most cases, the eyes of the dragonfly meet .
They can be quite colourful. Males are more brightly coloured than the females.
They breed in fresh waterways and are adversely affected by pollution, making them a reliable indicator of the state of the ecosystem. They tend to stay close to the area where they hatched.
Adult size: 60-80mm