Narrow-winged Damselflies

The Narrow-winged Damselflies make up the largest and most varied group of damselflies. They include most of the delicate species commonly seen around ponds and streams in Britain. These damselflies have slim bodies, which they usually hold straight out when resting. Their wings are narrow and attached on stalks, folding together above the body. Many of these damselflies have bright colours like blue, red, or green, often with black patterns that help tell them apart. Male and female damselflies often look quite different from each other. They prefer still or slow-moving freshwater places such as ponds, lakes, canals, and ditches, although some live in faster streams. The adults are weak flyers and usually stay close to the water's edge, where they catch small flying insects. The larvae live in water and are hunters too. They have three leaf-shaped gills sticking out from the end of their abdomen, which is a key feature that sets them apart from dragonfly larvae.