{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Damselflies
| image = Common_blue_damselfly02.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Blue Ringtail, ''Austrolestes annulosus''
| regnum = Animalia
| phylum = Arthropoda
| classis = Insecta
| ordo = Odonata
| subordo = Zygoptera
| subordo_authority = Selys, 1854
| subdivision_ranks = Families
| subdivision =
Amphipterygidae

Calopterygidae - Demoiselles

Chlorocyphidae - Jewels

Coenagrionidae - Pond Damselflies

Dicteriadidae - Barelegs

Euphaeidae - Gossamerwings

Hemiphlebidae - Reedlings

Isosticidae - Narrow-wings

Lestidae - Spreadwings

Lestoididae

Megapodagrionidae - Flatwings

Perilestidae - Shortwings

Platycnemididae - White-legged Damselflies

Platystictidae - Forest Damselflies

Polythoridae - Bannerwings

Protoneuridae - Pinflies

Pseudostigmatidae - Forest Giants

Synlestidae - Sylphs
}}

The Damselfly (Suborder Zygoptera) is an insect in the Order Odonata. Damselflies are similar to dragonflies, but the adults can be differentiated by the fact that the wings of most damselflies are held along the body when at rest. Furthermore, the hindwing of the damselfly is essentially similar to the forewing, while the hindwing of the dragonfly broadens near the base, caudal to the connecting point at the body. Damselflies are also usually smaller, weaker fliers than dragonflies, and their eyes are separated.

Biology

Damselflies undergo incomplete metamorphosis, with an aquatic nymphal stage. The female lays eggs in water, sometimes in underwater vegetation, or high in trees in bromeliads and other water-filled cavities. Nymphs are carnivorous, feeding on daphnia, mosquito larvae, and various other small aquatic organisms. The gills of damselfly nymphs are large and external, resembling three fins at the end of the abdomen. After moulting several times, the winged adult emerges and eats flies, mosquitoes, and other small insects. Some of the larger tropical species are known to feed on spiders, hovering near the web and simply plucking the spider from its perch.

Gallery

Image:Emerald_spreadwing_2.jpg|Emerald Spreadwing ''Lestes dryas''
Image:libellule2.JPG|Beautiful Demoiselle ''Calopteryx virgo''
Image:Common_blue_damselfly.jpg|Blue Ringtail ''Austrolestes annulosus''

Image:p1010762-1.jpg|Black Torrent Dart
Image:p1010464-1.jpg|Coromandel Marsh Dart ''Ceriagrion coromandelianum''
Image:jewelwing.jpg|Female Ebony Jewelwing ''Calopteryx maculata''

Image:DamselflyATH500.jpg|Common blue damselfly eating a leafhopper
Image:Hetaerina americana.jpg|American Rubyspot ''Hetaerina americana''
Image:Damselfly October 2007 Osaka Japan.jpg|''Ischnura senegalensis''

Mating Damselflies

Image:Mating Damselflies on Grass Posed Front and Back.jpg
Image:Mating Damselflies on Grass Posed Up and Down.jpg
Image:Accouplement agrions.jpg
Image:Coenagrion puella Luc Viatour.jpg