Stream Bluet Damselfly
Enallagma exsulans
Live adult damselflies photographed at DuPage County, Illinois, USA
Order Odonata / Suborder Zygoptera / Family Coenagrionidae — narrow-winged damselflies
Dragonflies and Damselflies date back 300 million years, to the Carboniferous Period of the Paleozoic Era. Today, there are about 450 North American species, and 5,000 in all.
This female Eastern Pondhawk Dragonfly is dining on Bluet Damselfly
They have evolved in to highly efficient hunters; their freely moveable heads sport huge compound eyes — in the case of the dragonfly, the eyes nearly cover the entire head.
Their sharp biting mouthparts, coupled with their four powerful, independent wings make them extremely agile flyers capable of snatching prey in midair.
Odonata Index | Dragonflies | Damselflies
Tree Encyclopedia / North American Insects & Spiders
Online since 2002
