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Certain insects are known to us since childhood. Few of them are Dragon fly and damsel fly, commonly known as Chatur in Marathi. They look attractive due to their slender colorful body and transparent wings. Their habitats are shrinking very fast so need conservation.

DAMSELFLIES AND DRAGONFLIES
ORDER : ODONATA
The order Odonata includes Dragonflies and Damselflies.
The main difference in these two is in the holding pattern of wings. Dragonflies tend to hold their wings perpendicular to the body while damselflies hold their wings parallel to their body.
Wings: Two pairs of long wings.
Mouth Parts: Chewing. Naiads (young larvae) have piercing mouthparts for catching underwater preys.
Metamorphosis: : Incomplete. Egg – Nymph – Adult.
Significance to Humans: They feed on insects (especially mosquitoes), so are considered beneficial.

Stream Glory Damselflies (Neurobasis chinensis)
Size varies from 1/4th to 1 inch in length. Wing colors are different in male and female.
Damselflies tend to hold their wings close to abdomen. They have been called as ‘mosquito hawks’. Common in hill streams up to an altitude of 2250m. Commonly found between 500-1200m. Perches on emergent boulders and fallen logs in streams.

Reference : Field guide :“Insects of BNHS reserve” by BNHS, Mumbai, Indian Insects and Arachnids by MeenakshiVenkataraman.
Photograph by : Gunwant Mahajan.

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