Do Damselflies Bite?

Dаmѕеlflу is an аеrіаl іnѕесtѕ. Dаmѕеlflіеѕ аrе mainly fоund nеаr ѕhаllоw, frеѕhwаtеr habitats. They аrе moderately good fliers (dragonflies are much better). Their ѕlim body with lоng, nеt-vеіnеd wіngѕwhich allows them to fly quite fast. They are also very pretty and for that reason some people want to catch or touch them. So, it’s important to know

Do damselflies bite? Yes, damselflies can bite human if they feel threatened. Normally they try to fly away and are scared of human but if you get caught between a group of damselflies then they can bite you because they are scared. Avoid disturbing them and you’ll be perfectly okay.

Little Bit About Damselfly

The damselfly is an enigmatic insect and very similar to the dragonfly. Damselflies are from the family of odonates and have incomplete metamorphosis. Its nymph state is aquatic.

Within the variety of insects, these correspond to the group of Odonata, popularly known as damselflies. They also go through the process of hemi metabolism, that is, incomplete, or simple metamorphosis. The fertilization is carried out when the female makes use of different scenarios when laying her eggs, usually in the water, bushes, or on the top of the trees. In the process, the youngest insects, that is, nymphs are carnivorous. They feed on mosquito larvae and different aquatic bodies. After the conversion, the mature insect takes flight and feeds on other types of insects such as flies. The more giant bugs feed on spiders.

This species of insects from the group of Odonata derives from the term odontos, which in Greek connotes the expression of “teeth.” It refers to the powerful jaw that it possesses and uses to play its role as a predator, commonly feeding on flies, mosquitoes, and butterflies, among others. Being weevil, these can eat any insect that resembles its volume, such as Mosco, small fish, and butterflies.

Dаmѕеlflіеѕ – Interesting Fасtѕ On Thеѕе Bеаutіful Insects

In the Odonata species, there are two groups of highly recognized insects, such as dragonflies and the damselfly. Composed of this order by three suborders, the first belongs to the dragonflies that have been the Anisoptera. The second corresponds to the damselfly that is the Zygoptera and the latter combined by the two suborders set forth above.

The damselfly or Zygoptera is the most incomparable suborder of odonates in terms of anatomy. In Florida, they have the same characteristics that consist of: separate eyes, elongated abdomen in comparison to its wings, its thin body silhouette, and simple flutter-shape. The Zygoptera tends to be very spectacular, and they can have colors ranging from blue to red.

Within its habitat are other Zygoptera families. Among these are the Coenagrionidae species, which is commonly found in the peripheries of the water supply system. The unusual family is the Lestidae; this species has a particularly distinctive in its behavior and rest with open wings. This quality is attributed to the dragonflies compared to the Zygoptera or damselflies.

Dаmѕеlflіеѕ Lіfе cycle

Odonates such as weevils or nymphs in the immaturity process are insects that suffer from incomplete metamorphosis, usually in aquatic environments. They inhabit massively in water environments. A few of them subsist in saltwater.

They are mostly dominant hunters; they do not miss the opportunity to sustain everything around them, such as from mosquito larvae to small fish and toads. Approximately nine to 17 occasions are a preamble to adulthood. Depending on the type of odonate, the number of reproductions per year will evolve.

Depending on the environmental or climatic conditions, the volume of fertilization may vary. The species reside in hot or tropical areas. They are more likely to have several offspring per year.

In the final phase, damselfly emerges from the water and goes to the edges of the rivers, or bushes to reach adulthood. As this process passes as an adult, damselfly expands its wings using flutters. A characteristic of males is that they have a sac in the abdominal area, specifically in segments two and three, where the extra genitals are located.

In the final abdominal segments, the primary reproductive organs are located. Here, the reproduction process is performed when the male reproduces the semen in the peak of the abdomen and then transport it to the extra genitals that are where the female will be fertilized.

In the case of females, they do not have extra genitals, nor do they have a base to support at the end of the abdominal region. But, they do have a genital groove, and at the tip of the abdomen, they have an ovipositor that functions as an egg store.

The coloration of the female is tenuous and not very striking. They are usually gray or brown, while the male has a variety of shades. When this species enters the mating process, the “copula wheel” arises. This term is denoted by the position taken by both insects simulating a wheel figure.

It is due to the location of their genitals. This process begins when the male holds the female from the back of the head, bends the abdominal end down and forward, causing his genitals to harmonize with those of the male.

Characteristics Of The Damselfly

• Nymphal Stadium is aquatic.
• The female lays eggs in the water inside the plants.
• Nymph gills are large and external, at the end of the abdomen.
• They eat flies, mosquitoes, and other small insects when they are adults.
• Their resting wings keep them folded along their bodies, specifically on their back.
• The eyes are far apart from one on each side of the head.
• They are small and slender.
• They fly short distances.
• They live in the water in their larval stage that lasts about eight months.
• They have two pairs of front and rear wings.
• The damselflies make short flights for hunting or investigate and return to their position immediately.

Damselflies inhabit water bodies like rivers and lagoons. Most of their larval stages are submerged in water by laying their eggs inside the plants behind the water. Damselflies prefer clean waters with a high percentage in oxygen, a relatively low water temperature, and a habitat with a lot of vegetation that protects from the wind. They look for areas far from cities or industries.

Do Dаmѕеlflіеѕ Bite?

Damselflies are born predators. They eat various kinds of insects. They can bite if they feel threatened but that is very rare. They don’t have teeth but they have mandibles which helps them to bite and also chew. They can even catch insects while flying using those mandibles. Usually these mandibles rests under their body when idle but when they are trying to catch a prey they rapidly thrust them out thus catching the prey.

Most damselflies species are incapable of biting and penetrating human skin however there are some big species of damselflies that can bite human, strong enough to create pain but fortunately none of them are poisonous.

You need to understand even those species only bite out of self defence. Just like all other animals they also possess this trait for self defence.

Damselflies Against Mosquito Pests

In various ecosystems, both damselflies and dragonflies regulate the appearance and existence of species that are harmful to human health. Many researchers have the theory that mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya would be more severe in various parts of the world. Do not count on the existence of damselflies or dragonflies since these are the main foods of these species.

There are different kinds of species of damselflies in the world that live in rivers, lagoons, and various bodies of water from slightly dirty waters to very clean coils. It is known that there is a species tolerant of contaminated water. During its larval stage, it tends to last two to eight months; they live permanently in the water.

Survival Risk

The deterioration and transformation of the habitats put at risk the existence of the damselflies are river deterioration, lagoons among other bodies of water. There is another factor that limits its survival is the modification of plant structure. Cutting down trees, changing vegetation significantly affects adults, primarily.

These are the neediest of vegetation since it protects them from the sun, and at night, the absence of plant puts them at risk due to the shortage of mosquitoes, flies, and Butterflies that serve as food.

Differences between Dragonflies and Damselfly

Although they are different, for the perception of people, there are no differences between dragonflies and damselflies. Both insects belong to Odonates, but the dragonflies belong to the Anisoptera suborder and the damselflies to the Zygoptera suborder.

The damselflies and dragonflies are very interesting insects generate curiosity among people who can see them; they have beautiful colors more than all males. Some of their ancestors had a size of up to 76 cm, but the dragonflies and damselflies that exist today the maximum they can get to measure are 17 cm. Dragonflies are giant and move more than the damselflies.

The dragonflies are easier to observe and tend to be more interesting. Instead, the damselflies are more fragile and are not easily seen. Dragonflies and damsels belong to the order Odonata, which includes 6,000 species that are divided into 27 families.

Shape And Size

On both wings, both damselflies and dragonflies have two pairs of wings, both front, and rear. In the damselflies, the wings are of equal size and shape, even though the hind wings are slightly shorter than in other species. The rear wings of the dragonflies are larger and have a different form than the previous wings.

The wings of a dragonfly are supported on its strong muscles that make them agile flying. They can travel long distances and even migrate to other places. Instead, the damselflies are weak fliers that stay close to home. The damselflies keep their wings along their back when they are at rest.

Resting Position

During rest, the dragonfly does it with its wings extended. Instead, the damselflies place them on its back. Dragonflies are placed in different resting positions to control the temperature of their bodies. When the weather is hot, they place their tail up to reduce the body surface exposed to the sun. When the weather is colder, they flatten their bodies to absorb as much heat from the sun as possible. Thermoregulation allows a dragonfly to conserve or release heat.

Survival

When laying eggs, the female damselflies have tubes that lay eggs, which they use to open the plant tissues and lay their eggs inside the plants at the water level or below. They can survive underwater for more than an hour to produce their eggs.

When putting the eggs inside the plant tissues, it is ensured that when the water goes down. Due to this, the plants are exposed; this does not dry out due to the temperatures. Female dragonflies do not have oviscapto or tubes disperse their eggs over water or on the surface of floating silvers.

Dragonflies and damselflies have large and prominent eyes. In the damselflies, the eyes are separated by an approximate distance of the width of their eyes. On the other hand, the eyes of a dragonfly are together, sometimes gathered in the center. During the day, the dragonflies remain in constant motion. The Damselflies make short flights for hunting or investigate, and return immediately to their position.