Hunting bugs


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Damselflies and Dragonflies look very similar.  They are both of the order Odonata and hunt bugs themselves.  In both the aquatic nymph form and as an adult, they consume large quantities of smaller insects.  In fact if you are walking and see a swarm of dragonflies you are also going to find a swarm of mosquitoes or no-seeums.

You can tell the difference between them by the placement of the eyes and the way they hold their wings at rest.  The damselfly rests with its wings parallel to the body and it’s eyes are seperated and on the side of the head as you can see above.

Dragonflies rest their wings in a extended position and their eyes are much closer together and meet above the ‘face’.  You can see the difference in the dragonfly below.

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The damselfly and I were not the only bug hunters out this morning.  I also ran across this small brown anole stalking a small fly too.  If you look closely at the tail you can see that this hunter has also been hunted.  The tail is being regrown after a loss.  That was most likely from one of our local herons or egrets.


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