Head to head
Emperor Dragonfly vs Damselfly
The emperor dragonfly and the damselfly both belong to the order Odonata, but they represent its two very different branches, one a large, powerful aerial hunter, the other a slender, delicate flier that folds its wings at rest.
| Emperor Dragonfly | Damselfly | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Anax imperator | Zygoptera |
| Size | Large | Slender and smaller |
| Flight style | Fast, sustained, powerful | Weak and fluttering |
| Wings at rest | Held open and flat | Folded together along the body |
| Eyes | Large, meeting or nearly meeting on top of the head | Set clearly apart on the sides of the head |
| Hunting style | Catches prey directly out of the air | Plucks small insects from the air or leaves |
| Diet | Carnivore | Insectivore |
| Taxonomic group | Suborder Anisoptera | Suborder Zygoptera |
Emperor Dragonfly vs Damselfly: common questions
How can you tell the emperor dragonfly apart from a damselfly?
The clearest cue is wing position at rest: the emperor dragonfly holds its wings open and flat, while a damselfly folds its wings together along its body, backed up by the damselfly's more slender build and eyes set further apart.
Which is the more powerful flier, the emperor dragonfly or a damselfly?
The emperor dragonfly, which is capable of fast, sustained, powerful flight, while damselflies generally fly weakly, fluttering low among vegetation.
Are the emperor dragonfly and damselflies closely related?
Yes, both belong to the order Odonata, though the emperor dragonfly belongs to the suborder Anisoptera and damselflies belong to the separate suborder Zygoptera.