odonates

[Andre]

Sometimes I struggle to distinguish the differences between the adult damsels and dragons, unless I can get a little more than seconds glance as it flies past. While they are very easy to tell apart in the nymphal stages, the adults are not always so easy to tell apart.
this site has nice quick and easy list of obvious things to look for to quickly tell them apart.
http://insects.about.com/od/identify...onordamsel.htm

[JadeDsantos]

Sometimes I struggle to distinguish the differences between the adult damsels and dragons, unless I can get a little more than seconds glance as it flies past. While they are very easy to tell apart in the nymphal stages, the adults are not always so easy to tell apart.
this site has nice quick and easy list of obvious things to look for to quickly tell them apart.
http://insects.about.com/od/identify...onordamsel.htm

It is pretty easy if you see them when they land. Dragons wings go out to the side, damsels wings fold backwards.

[Andre]

Interesting that the nymph damsel flies gills are attached to the end of its abdomen, giving it the appearance of a large tail. I didn't know that.....

[Andre]

Yes I was always able to tell them apart at rest, but not so easy when they fly past.

It is pretty easy if you see them when they land. Dragons wings go out to the side, damsels wings fold backwards.

[JadeDsantos]

Dragon flies also taste saltier, while damsels a bit of like peanut butter but a bit more acidic . . .

[ArcherFish]

Jade
While that may be true for most, it is not a hard and fast rule.

Andre, in general damselflies are much smaller with skinny abdomens.

There is great book by Warwick Tarboton that has just come out, will tell you everything you need to know.

It is pretty easy if you see them when they land. Dragons wings go out to the side, damsels wings fold backwards.

[Andre]

Apparently a lot of variation is sizes across both, which makes distiguish them them apart by size alone, unreliable

Jade
While that may be true for most, it is not a hard and fast rule.

Andre, in general damselflies are much smaller with skinny abdomens.

There is great book by Warwick Tarboton that has just come out, will tell you everything you need to know.