damselfly -zygopthera

DAMSELFLIES- Zygoptera(ஊசித் தும்பி)

As adults, dragonflies and damselflies are often mistaken for each other. However, damselflies can fold or close their wings over their back and parallel to their body. Dragonflies cannot do this. Also, the damsels generally have a much narrower body and finer features.
The adult has four wings that fold over the back. The male of the most common variety in the interior is blue while the female is more of a slate color. For the nymph, a fairly large and bulbous head sits on a tubular shaped body. The eyes of the damsel are fairly pronounced but not as large or pronounced as the eyes of a dragonfly nymph. The tail is three feathery looking appendages. The tail is called the "caudal lamellae" and is actually three gills at the end of the abdomen. In the early stages of the nymph the body parts are not very distinct and the nymph is very dainty looking. It looks more like a walking stick.

Damselfly nymphs are hatched in shallow water and tend to stay in the shallows among weed beds where food is plentiful. They may by found in running water but seen to prefer the marshes, ponds and lakes. They usually stay in shallow clean water but may be found to depths of 35 feet.