COMMON NAME
Damselfly
Order

Suborder

Family

Genus

Species

Alias
Odanata

Zygoptera








Description

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

Out and about

About from spring to autumn. They are found all over the world in all continents except Antarctica. They occur all over Australia.

Reproduction and Life cycle

The female lays her eggs within plants that are in or near water. The nymphs go through many instars before the final moult where they emerge as an adult. It can take a year before they reach the adult stage.

To deter

To control

Plants to repel

Plants to attract

- Australian natives and other flowering plants that attract nectar-feeding prey - water features and ponds provide breeding grounds

Predators

Why they are Beneficial
Adults catch soft-bodied insects like aphids, mites and insect larva. They also eat moth eggs. The aquatic nymphs of damselflies are also predatory feeding on insects in the water.
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