Damselfly Love

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Besides eating mosquitoes and chasing other male damsels, what else is there to do on a sunny day at the pond? These two Great Spreadwing damselflies, Archilestes grandis, assured more of their kind for the future.

Sparkly and a joy to observe, I wish these two and their offspring well!

11 thoughts on “Damselfly Love”

    • Thank you, Tanja! I was able to squat down at the pond’s edge, cast a shadow over the two lovers, so that the sun didn’t highlight their activity too much. Fortunately, they didn’t spook!

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  3. You must really appreciate the mosquito-eating.

    Here’s what AI offered up about damselfly reproduction:

    Adult damselflies generally live for only a few days to a few weeks after reproducing, though their total lifespan as flying adults typically lasts from about 1 to 3 weeks up to 1 to 3 months depending on the species.

    Key facts about their post-reproduction lifespan:

    • Continuous Mating: Research on species like the azure damselfly shows they continue to mate and lay multiple batches of eggs regularly throughout their adult life until they die.
    • No Sudden Post-Mating Death: Unlike some insects that die immediately after spawning, damselflies do not have a hard drop-off or pay a steep physiological price right after a single round of reproduction—they keep foraging and breeding.
    • End of Life Factors: Most adult damselflies die shortly after their active flight and breeding window due to weather, exhaustion, natural aging, or predators (such as birds, spiders, and frogs) rather than an immediate programmed death from mating.

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    • Interesting facts! I notice that with the shortening days, there is less activity and now that we’ve cooled off for real (woo-hoo!), they’re probably done for the year. I always miss them, but they’ll return and sparkle in the garden next year.

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  4. I see the wind shift has arrived for you, and dropping temperatures. The pleasant conditions this lovely pair had are about to change! I noticed at work yesterday that Monarchs had appeared, fluttering across Clear Lake. I knew what that meant! Any laggards were taking advantage of northerly winds to speed them on their way. Changes all around!

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    • Yes! I was able to play in the garden this morning and move things around that have annoyed me all summer! I had so much fun! It’s gorgeous today: actually a bit chilly, windy, and cloudy. No need for sunglasses, mosquito repellent, and no perspiration happened. My garden is abloom, though the pollinators aren’t out much–that’s the one downside.

      I’ve only seen a few monarchs wafting through, hoping for more. I’ll be planting some native milkweed in the neighborhood school garden that I’ve been babysitting all summer on Sunday.

      Now, I should go do the things I was actually supposed to do today. 🙂

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