Getting to know dragonflies and damselflies
Dragonflies and damselflies are common sights around creeks, ponds and dams. Most start life as larvae under water, where they hunt for aquatic insects and tadpoles. Months or years later, they crawl out of the water and shed their skin to emerge as acrobatic adults that can fly at speeds of up to 55km hour.
Damselflies are generally sleeker than dragonflies and hold their wings along their bodies when resting, while dragonflies hold their wings out when at rest.
Help us learn more about threatened dragonflies and damselflies
If you’re in bushland around Sydney, keep your eyes out for the Sydney Hawk Dragonfly (Austrocordulia leonardi) around deep river holes. Also in the Greater Sydney area is one of Australia’s rarest dragonflies, Adam’s Emerald Dragonfly (Archaeophya adamsi). They may live as larvae for around 7 years before living as adults for just a few months.
Join the Bug Hunt for dragonflies and damselflies
By taking photos of dragonflies and damselflies and uploading them into iNaturalist, you can help grow our knowledge about where they live and what habitat they like.
In iNaturalist, go to projects, search for ‘Bug Hunt Australia’ and join.
Dragonfly and Damselfly Gallery
Fiery Skimmer
Orthetrum villosovittatum
Blue Skimmer
Orthetrum caledonicum
Common Bluetail Damselfly
Enallagma cyathigerum
Emerging Damselfly
Suborder Zygoptera
Tips for spotting and photographing dragonflies and damselflies
Dragonflies and damselflies breed in freshwater, so you are best looking for them around slow running creeks, ponds and dams on sunny days in the warmer times of the year. They can be tricky to photograph because they whiz around so fast. Early morning when they are a bit cold from the night is the best time to get them sitting still.
When taking photos for iNaturalist, remember:
- Have your GPS location turned on.
- Take lots of photos from different angles.
- Upload your shots photos directly through the iNaturalist app, or through your computer at www.inaturalist.org. The app AI may suggest a specific species, but if you’re not confident on the species identification (some species can look quite similar), just select ’dragonflies and damselflies’. Experts in the iNaturalist community can then suggest a more specific identification for you.
- Adding a photo or some notes about the type of environment can help build knowledge about what kind of habitat they like.
Backyard dragonflies and damselflies
Common bluetail damselflies are found across (Ischnura heterosticta) much of Australia, as are Blue skimmer dragonflies (Orthetrum caledonicum) and wandering percher dragonflies (Diplacodes bipunctata)
To find out what dragonflies and damselflies are being observed near you, go to www.inaturalist.org/observations and search for ‘Dragonflies and damselflies’ in your location.