Is It a Dragonfly or Damselfly? How to Tell Dragonflies and Damselflies From Look-Alikes
Dragonflies and Damselflies: 5 marks to check, what they are often confused with, whether they bite or sting, and where they turn up, quoted from university entomology and IPM sources.
At a glance
- Group: Order Odonata; dragonflies and damselflies belong to the same order
- Body plan: Dragonflies have short, stout bodies; damselflies are thin and slender; resting postures also differ (see how_to_tell).
- Bites or stings: Not covered by the sources we opened; handle unknown bugs with care.
- Where you find them: Found on every continent except Antarctica, almost anywhere there is freshwater — lakes, ponds, wetlands, streams, rivers, vernal pools, and bogs.
How to tell it is one of the dragonflies and damselflies
- Resting wing posture: dragonflies hold their wings flat and spread out at rest.
- Resting wing posture: damselflies fold their wings together and hold them upright over the body like a sail at rest.
- Build: dragonflies have short, stout bodies.
- Build: damselflies are thin and slender, sometimes called the "dainty cousin" of dragonflies.
- Distinguishing from mayflies (nymph habitat): dragonfly/damselfly nymphs tolerate still water well, while mayfly nymphs generally need faster-flowing, higher-oxygen water.
Often confused with
People most often mix dragonflies and damselflies up with:
Open the other page and compare its list against the marks above; the differences are usually in the antennae, wings or the way the body is divided.
Pest or beneficial?
Natural pest controllers that prey on whatever flying insects are plentiful — flies, midges, beetles, mosquitoes, and more; considered beneficial.
Where they turn up
Found on every continent except Antarctica, almost anywhere there is freshwater — lakes, ponds, wetlands, streams, rivers, vernal pools, and bogs.
How to photograph it for identification
Get as close as your camera will focus, from directly above, in daylight or a bright lamp. Include the whole body with the legs and antennae in frame; a second shot from the side shows wings and body segments. Put a coin or ruler next to it for scale. For a bite or a bug found on skin or bedding, photograph the bug itself, not the mark. The app names the likely group; use the list above to confirm.
FAQ
Do dragonflies and damselflies bite or sting?
The sources we opened for this group do not describe bites or stings. Treat any bug you cannot identify with care and avoid handling it bare-handed.
What is the quickest way to recognize dragonflies and damselflies?
Resting wing posture: dragonflies hold their wings flat and spread out at rest.
Are dragonflies and damselflies a pest?
Natural pest controllers that prey on whatever flying insects are plentiful — flies, midges, beetles, mosquitoes, and more; considered beneficial.
How do I tell dragonflies and damselflies from mayflies?
Build: dragonflies have short, stout bodies. Distinguishing from mayflies (nymph habitat): dragonfly/damselfly nymphs tolerate still water well, while mayfly nymphs generally need faster-flowing, higher-oxygen water. The Mayflies page lists its own marks.
Related
See what's really crawling, flying, and buzzing past.
Start with a single photo.
Sources
- https://extension.psu.edu/dragons-and-damsels-around-your-pond-and-water-garden
- https://extension.psu.edu/attracting-dragons-and-damsels-to-backyard-ponds
- https://citybugs.tamu.edu/2011/05/11/damselflies-of-texas/
- https://extension.psu.edu/indicator-insects-stoneflies-and-mayflies
Updated 2026-09-11.