Dragonflies are sturdy insects that usually rest with their four wings spread out. Both the flying adults and their young living underwater are hunters, and different species use ponds, marshes, lakes, or flowing streams across the United States.
This eastern North American stream dragonfly is dark with paired yellow marks along its abdomen. Look for its two yellow stripes behind the head as well.
Look near vegetated ponds and lakes in the southeastern United States, especially the coastal plain. A mature male is blue-black, with small dark marks on the hindwings.
This yellow-brown migrant ranges widely across the United States and often stays in flight over open ground or temporary pools.
This large darner with a green middle body section patrols ponds and wetlands across North America. Many populations migrate, while others develop locally.
Damselflies are usually slimmer, with eyes set well apart. Many hold their wings together over the abdomen at rest, while most dragonflies hold them out, though there are exceptions.
Why they get mixed upBoth are long-bodied insects with four wings crisscrossed with fine lines and aquatic young.