Stats

Lifespan

1-2 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Insectivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

Worldwide

Movement

Flight

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Speed

Status

Common

About

Damselflies are slender insects found near freshwater habitats on every continent. They capture prey by forming a basket with their legs while flying at high speeds.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg

   A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3. 3.
   subadult

   A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Odonata