The iridescent colours are produced by minute surface structures and not by pigments. This is a much smaller damselfly, found at ponds and lakes. Some species, such as Ischnura elegans, are found in several colour variations. If you have a pond you may see some varieties which are unusual. Dragonflies Dragonflies belong to the insect order Odonate - suborder Anisoptera, meaning different wings, the front and rear pairs being different.
Dragonflies are generally bigger and faster than damselflies.
Some dragonflies can fly non-stop from dawn until dusk, sixteen hours in some cases. They are the swifts and swallows of the insect world. During these flights they find all the food they need by seizing flying insects. When mature, they find a suitable pond, and, if male, they fend off rivals for their territory while waiting for a female. Some dragonflies are fiercely territorial, and may engage in short but spectacular dog-fights.