Dragonflies and Damselflies - West Yorkshire

Difference between a Dragonfly and a Damselfly:
A Dragonfly is generally larger, its flight is less jerky than a damselfly. When resting the dragonfly usually has its wings 90 degree to its body, the damselfly usually has them folded back along its body.

Both species use their long legs to capture insects when flying, their legs are so long that they are unable to walk on the horizontal.

Dragonflies feed on insects which they catch while flying with their forelegs extended out.
They belong to the group Hawkers - Dragonflies that restlessly patrol their territory in search of prey. Other category is the Darters which have thicker body and will spend time resting on vegetation.

Life cycle
After the Dragonflies have mated they fly off often both joined together, the female pushes her abdomen into the water and inserts the eggs amongst vegetation. The eggs hatch into nymphs which spend two - four years in the water feeding on tadpoles and other prey. In early summer the grown nymph leaves the water usually early evening and clings to foliage, it sheds its skin and emerges as a winged adult dragonfly.