Bug of the Week: Damselfly in the Desert

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For those who want to learn more:

1. This delicate insect is a damselfly. It is perched, actively hunting other small insects.

2. It was jumping off the perch, grabbing an insect and then returning to the same position. In this photograph it’s wings are down. It is watching. Look at the wings in 1 and 3. I caught a photograph just as it was landing (1) and taking off (3). The wings are elevated, ready to fly.

3. Do you notice that it is brown on brown leaves? There were other objects to perch on in the area, but most were green.I wonder if this predator takes advantage of disguises like the crab spiders from last week. What do you think?

San Diego Zoo information page

3 Comments

  1. Kai

    Beautiful! Is there a difference between a damselfly and a dragonfly?

  2. Roberta

    Glad you asked.
    Yes, there is a difference. The dragonfly sits with it’s wings straight out to the sides; the damselfly is typically more delicate, smaller and rests with its wings folded over the back.

  3. Deborah

    Love watching these! They are so interesting.

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