{"id":1531,"date":"2026-09-22T09:14:34","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T07:14:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lagunasdeballesteros.org\/?post_type=noticia&p=1531"},"modified":"2026-09-22T09:16:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T07:16:21","slug":"dragonflies-and-damselflies-how-to-tell-them-apart","status":"publish","type":"noticia","link":"https:\/\/lagunasdeballesteros.org\/en\/noticia\/libelulas-y-caballitos-del-diablo-como-diferenciarlos\/","title":{"rendered":"How to tell dragonflies and damselflies apart"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the Ballesteros Lagoons, it is easy to find, during the warm months, small blue, red, or copper flashes among the vegetation. At first glance they may seem very similar, but not all of them are dragonflies: some are damselflies<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

Both belong to the order Odonata, but they form two distinct groups. Dragonflies belong to the suborder Anisoptera<\/em> and the damselflies to the suborder Zygoptera<\/em>. To tell them apart, you don't need to be a specialist: it's enough to look for a few clues.<\/p>\n\n

\n
\n \"Damselfly\n
Damselfly<\/strong> slender body and wings folded along the abdomen.<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n \"Perched\n
Dragonfly<\/strong> more robust body and open wings when perched.<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n

The easiest clue: how they position their wings<\/h2>\n\n

The simplest difference is usually seen when the insect lands. The dragonflies<\/strong> they usually keep all four wings spread out to the sides. The damselflies<\/strong>, instead, they usually fold them together over the abdomen or keep them very close to each other.<\/p>\n\n

It is a rule of thumb, not an absolute norm: there are exceptions within both groups. Even so, for a first identification it is usually one of the most useful clues.<\/p>\n\n

\n
\n \"Pair\n
In damselflies, the long and very slender abdomen stands out.<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n \"Dragonfly\n
Viewed from above, the wing posture of a dragonfly is especially evident.<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n

Body, eyes, and flight: other differences<\/h2>\n\n

The body also gives many clues. Damselflies are usually finer and more delicate<\/strong>, while dragonflies generally have an appearance more robust<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

If we can see the head well, there is another very useful difference. In damselflies the eyes are clearly separated<\/strong> on both sides of the head. In dragonflies, they are much larger and, in most species, end up touching each other or remain very close to one another.<\/p>\n\n

\n
\n \"Close-up\n
Damselfly: the eyes are clearly separated on both sides of the head. Photo: Anton 17 \/ Wikimedia Commons<\/a>. CC BY-SA 3.0 License.<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n \"Close-up\n
Dragonfly: the large eyes occupy a large part of the head and, in many species, end up touching. Photo: ImagePerson \/ Wikimedia Commons<\/a>. CC BY 4.0 License.<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n

It is also noticeable in the air. Dragonflies usually have a faster, more powerful, and direct flight; damselflies, a lighter and less energetic one. These characteristics provide guidance, although identifying a specific species requires other traits.<\/p>\n\n

\n

At a glance:<\/strong> If it has a very slender body, eyes set far apart, and folds its wings when resting, you are probably looking at a damselfly. If it is sturdier, has very large eyes, and rests with its wings open, it is probably a dragonfly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n \"Red\n
Color alone is not enough to distinguish the two groups: there are damselflies and dragonflies with very different hues.<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n

Dragonflies and damselflies in the Ballesteros Lagoons<\/h2>\n\n

Both groups can be observed in the Ballesteros Lagoons, associated with the vegetation and wetlands. Their life is closely tied to water: although the adults are the ones we see flying, their development begins in an aquatic larval phase.<\/p>\n\n

That is why observing odonates is also a way to get closer to how the wetland works. In LIFE Ballesteros, it is planned to study the fauna of aquatic and terrestrial arthropods, including these insects, as part of the monitoring of the area's biodiversity.<\/p>\n\n

\n \"Red\n
Dragonfly photographed in the Lagunas de Ballesteros.<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n

If you want to know more about their life cycle and why they can provide information on the state of wetlands, you can also read \u201cDragonflies and damselflies: a life between water and air\u201d<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

You can also find out about the planned actions to restore the wetland on the page of LIFE Ballesteros project<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

External images used for educational purposes only to show eye detail. The rest of the photographs in the article belong to the Ballesteros Lagoons.<\/small><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

En las Lagunas de Ballesteros es f\u00e1cil encontrar, durante los meses c\u00e1lidos, peque\u00f1os destellos azules, rojos o cobrizos entre la vegetaci\u00f3n. A simple vista pueden parecer muy similares, pero no todos son lib\u00e9lulas: algunos son caballitos del diablo. Ambos pertenecen al orden de los odonatos, pero forman dos grupos distintos. Las lib\u00e9lulas pertenecen al suborden […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1529,"template":"","tipo-de-noticia":[],"class_list":["post-1531","noticia","type-noticia","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lagunasdeballesteros.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/noticia\/1531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lagunasdeballesteros.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/noticia"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lagunasdeballesteros.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/noticia"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lagunasdeballesteros.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1529"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lagunasdeballesteros.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"tipo-de-noticia","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lagunasdeballesteros.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tipo-de-noticia?post=1531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}