Dragons and damsels in the woods

by KEVIN STRAUSS

Starting in the middle of June and throughout the summer, the northwoods is alive with dragons and damsels. These aren’t the creatures of fairy tales, although that is where their names come from. The dragons and damsels in our woods are dragonflies and damselflies that fly like insect helicopters around lakes and streams.

These two species have a lot in common and they are both part of the insect order Odonata. Generally speaking dragonflies are bigger, thicker and hold their wings flat when they land. Damselflies are smaller, thinner, more delicate-looking and they hold their wings up when they land.

While we only see the adults in the summer, we have these insects here all year round. But most of the time the young nymphs are in streams and lakes, safely out of view.

Dragonflies

Right now, year-old dragonfly nymphs are crawling out of the water and onto grass or twigs where they molt one more time. The adults “inflate” their wings with blood. When the wings dry, dragonflies can fly up to 35 m.p.h. to catch mosquitoes and other small insects for dinner. The adults disperse from lakes and rivers and feed in forests and fields for 2-3 weeks before returning to ponds to mate and lay eggs in the water. If you notice dragonflies “patrolling” a section of waterfront, it is probably a male chasing off competing males. If you see two dragonflies flying together, it could be a pair of dragonflies mating. If you see a dragonfly dipping the tip of its abdomen (tail) into the water, it is probably a female laying eggs in the water.

The eggs hatch into six-legged black nymphs. The nymphs feed on other insects and spend a year growing and molting before they become adults next year.

After mating, adult dragonflies live about another week.

Damselflies

The lifecycle for damselflies is very similar to the cycle for dragonflies. One big difference between dragonfly nymphs and damselfly nymphs is that dragonfly nymphs look a bit like chubby six-legged spiders and move by expelling water out of their abdomens. Damselfly nymphs are slender and have thee feathery “gills” on their tails. These nymphs move by moving their gills the same way that a fish uses its tail to swim.

Unlike dragonfly adults that soar over ponds and fields to catch insects, damselflies are more likely to perch near a sunny patch in the forest. When an insect flies through the light, the damselfly flies out and grabs it for dinner. Both species have huge eyes that let them see in all directions, making it much easier to zero in on a meal.

Contrary to popular legend, neither dragonflies nor damselflies can sting or bite people. On the other hand, they do eat millions of mosquitoes each year, which should earn them our gratitude on a hot summer day.