They do not sting and rarely bite even if handled. Dragonflies and Damselflies Are Different Dragonflies can be easily confused with damselflies in the adult stage. The easiest way to tell the adults apart is to look at them when they land on the ground or on a plant. Dragonflies do not fold their wings. They hold their two pair of wings motionless but still in a flying position.
Most damselflies fold their wings in an upward and backward position.
But one group of damselflies are different. They are the spread-winged damselflies . They keep their transparent wings spread out like a dragonfly, but their front wings point more toward the head. Their back wings point more toward the tip of the abdomen. Their wings are not held as flat as the wings of the dragonflies.