Despite the fact that the nearest pond is at least a mile or so away, I get many damselflies in my yard. Water is important because damselflies mate over water, either in flight or perched on reeds or other plants. After the mating ritual, the female damselfly lays her eggs on submerged vegetation. The eggs hatch and nymphs emerge. These damselfly nymphs eat other bugs that are unfortunate enough to get too close. The nymphs molt several times before they leave the water and become adult damselflies.
The adult damselfly has four wings that fold over the back. The male bluet displays the characteristic blue color while the female is gray or brown. The adults feed on insects, which they catch and eat midflight.
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