Bernie - glad to see you're enjoying that site
Shane
Damselfly is a name given to members of the suborder Zygoptera. These animals are generally of slim build, their eyes are always widely separated, their fore- and hindwings are similar in shape and are narrowed at the base. Most species rest with their wings held above the abdomen. The larvae are slender with cylindrical abdomens and have three (rarely two) leaf-like gill structures at the end of the abdomen.
Dragonfly is a name which can be used for all Odonata, but is often restricted to members of the suborder Anisoptera. These are generally larger, more robust animals. In most species the eyes touch, or almost touch, at the top of the head; the fore and hind wings differ in shape (the base of the hindwings being broader) and the wingbases are quite broad. The wings are usually held spread when at rest. The larvae are robust, the abdomen is broader than the thorax and somewhat dorso-ventrally flattened. The rectum is enlarged and contains specialised gill structures. There are no leaf-like caudal appendages.
well - you asked (see
http://www.jcu.edu.au/school/tbiol/zool ... ta/faq.htm)