Dragonflies and Damselflies

	Dragonflies and Damselflies - Order Odonata The order Odonata is divided into two suborders: Zygoptera (damselflies) and Anisoptera (dragonflies). Live dragonflies and damselflies photographed in the wild at North American locations. Insects & Spiders \| Odonata Index \| Dragonflies \| Damselflies \| Bugs Index \| Spider Pictures

Blue Dasher Male

The presence and abundance of odonates may be taken as an indicator of ecosystem quality. Local populations can be strongly affected by any change in water flow, turbidity, etc., or in aquatic or waterside vegetation. The greatest numbers of species are found at sites which offer a wide variety of microhabitats, prey, and clean water.

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Ruby Meadowhawk Male Sympetrum rubicundulum	Ruby Meadowhawk Female Sympetrum rubicundulum	Black Saddlebags Male Tramea lacerata	White Faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum obtrusum
Eastern Pondhawk Female Erythemis simplicicollis	White Faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum obtrusum	Blue Dasher Female Pachydiplex longipennis	Eastern Pondhawk Male Erythemis simplicicollis
Green Darner Female Anax junius	Green Darner Male Anax junius	Blue Dasher Male Pachydiplex longipennis	Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa

Odonates are completely harmless - they do not sting or bite. Indeed, they are beneficial in the same respect spiders and other predators are beneficial - they keep the burgeoning insect population in check. Many of these species prey on each other; I often see dragonflies with damsels in their clutches. Dragonflies are among the most ancient of living creatures. Fossil records, clearly recognisable as the ancestors of our present day odonates, go back to Carboniferous times which means that the insects were flying more than 300 million years ago, predating dinosaurs by over 100 million years and birds by some 150 million.

Chalk-fronted Corporal - Ladona julia

Cherry-faced Meadowhawk	Eastern Amberwing female	Common Whitetail
Twelve-spotted Skimmer Male	Calico Pennant Dragonfly	Humane Society Calendar

Female Erythemis perches with her front legs folded behind her head. Male Bumblebees do the same thing.

Zygoptera (Damselflies)
Stream Bluet	American Rubyspot	Emerald Spreadwing	Northern Bluet Damselfly
Familiar Bluet	Eastern Forktail Damselfly	Ebony Jewelwing	Blue-Fronted Dancer
Powdered Dancer	Slender Spreadwing	Eastern Forktail variation	Fragile Forktail

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