Characteristics
- Slender and elongated body, often colorful (blue, green, red, black…)
- Equal-sized narrow wings, folded above the abdomen at rest
- Widely separated eyes, on the sides of the head
- Slow, smooth, and quiet flight
- Small to medium size (generally 30 to 45 mm)
Habitat
Zygoptera can be found in:
- Streams, ponds, pools, ditches, wetlands
- Riparian vegetation, reeds, rushes, tall grasses near water
- Some species are forest-dwelling or specialized in oligotrophic habitats
Biology
- Predators of flying insects as adults
- Aquatic larvae, slender with three terminal gills
- Oviposition on submerged or emergent vegetation
- Mating in “heart” position, often followed by tandem oviposition
- Life cycle usually annual, sometimes longer
Representative Families
- Coenagrionidae – Slim, very common damselflies (Ischnura, Coenagrion, Enallagma)
- Calopterygidae – Large metallic damselflies with often colored wings (Calopteryx splendens, Calopteryx virgo)
- Lestidae – Damselflies that perch with partially open wings, often near ponds (Lestes viridis, Lestes barbarus)
- Platycnemididae – Species with expanded male tibiae (Platycnemis)
Special Features
- Highly sensitive to water quality and riparian vegetation structure
- Diurnal and often active in sunlight
- Less marked territorial behavior than Anisoptera
- Some species are threatened by wetland loss
A realistic illustration of a Calopteryx virgo perched on a leaf or a pair of Coenagrion puella in tandem near a pond will be added soon.