Dragonflies and Damselflies are both super similar to each other, but there are some key differences! Of course, each of these comes with a caveat—they are true most of the time. There are definitely some exceptions. Who knows, maybe some of them are aliens?

Dragonflies

Dragonflies tend to be large-bodied, both thick and long. Their eyes tend to be gigantic, too! They usually meet in the middle and remind me of a fighter pilot helmet, and when you consider that a dragonfly can accelerate at 3 Gs and make a near-effortless turn at 9 Gs, the Top Gun parallels only increase. When at rest, their equal-sized wings stick out to the sides, sort of like an airplane.

Damselflies

Damselflies are a bit different than dragonflies. Aptly named, they’re sort of aesthetically like the “damsel in distress” of dragonflies. They tend to be smaller-bodied, long and slender, and borderline dainty. Their eyes tend to be smaller and separated at either end of their head on stalks, sort of like a hammerhead shark. Their hindwings are larger than their forewings, and they rest straight back along the length of their body—most of the time.

Shared Traits

There are definitely some commonalities. For one, they both have long bodies. They also both have aquatic larvae that undergo an incomplete metamorphosis, as compared to a complete metamorphosis like in butterflies. In terms of wings, they both have four total. And no, they are not aliens—we think.