There are four families of damselflies (Suborder Zygoptera) in the United States of America, although only three families occur in the mid-Atlantic region: Family Calopterygidae (Broad-winged Damselflies); Family Coenagrionidae (Narrow-winged Damselflies); and Family Lestidae (Spreadwings).
Pattern recognition can be used to tentatively identify damselfly larvae/exuviae to the family level: the shape of the prementum is characteristic for each of the three families; mnemonics can be used to remember each distinctive shape.
Family Calopterygidae (Broad-winged Damselflies)
Family Calopterygidae features a prementum with a shape that looks somewhat similar to Family Coenagrionidae. Look for an embedded raindrop shape, located toward the upper-center of the prementum.
An Ebony Jewelwing damselfly (Calopteryx maculata) exuvia was collected along a small stream located in eastern Fairfax County, Virginia USA.
Family Calopterygidae (Broad-winged Damselflies) | prementum
Family Coenagrionidae (Narrow-winged Damselflies)
The shape of the prementum for Family Coenagrionidae reminds me of a keystone.
A Narrow-winged Damselfly exuvia — probably Argia sp. (it’s a work in progress) — was collected along the Potomac River in Fairfax County, Virginia USA. This individual is a female, as indicated by the rudimentary ovipositor located on the ventral side of her abdomen.
Family Coenagrionidae (Narrow-winged Damselflies) | ventral
The lamellae, also known as caudal lamellae, are external structures used by damselfly larvae for both respiration and locomotion. In contrast, the respiratory system for dragonfly larvae is internal. Characteristics of the caudal lamellae (including shape of/patterns on) are some of the clues that can be used to identify damselflies to the genus/species level.
Family Lestidae (Spreadwings)
The unique shape of the prementum for Family Lestidae reminds me of a rattle (musical instrument).
A damselfly exuvia from the Family Lestidae (Spreadwings) was collected from a small vernal pool located in eastern Fairfax County, Virginia USA. Although the genus/species is unknown (again, it’s a work in progress), both Slender Spreadwing (Lestes rectangularis) adults and Southern Spreadwing (Lestes australis) adults were observed at the vernal pool on the same day this specimen was collected.
Family Lestidae (Spreadwings) | prementum
Related Resources
The first step is the hardest, as the saying goes. In this case, it’s easier to identify damselfly larvae/exuviae to the family level than it is to identify specimens to the genus/species level. There are relatively few resources, especially online resources. The following links to two dichotomous keys and a pattern-matching guide for caudal lamellae should help you get started. Many of the same species of damselflies that are known to occur in Michigan, Florida, and the Carolinas can be found in the mid-Atlantic region.
- Odonata Nymphs of Michigan, by Ethan Bright and Mark F. O’Brien. Follow links to Calopterygidae (Broad-winged Damselflies); Coenagrionidae (Narrow-winged Damselflies); and Lestidae (Spreadwings).
- Identification Manual for the Damselfly Nymphs (Zygoptera) of Florida, by Johnny S. Richardson
- Caudal Lamellae of Carolina Zygoptera, by Lynn Erckmann
Copyright © 2017 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: Broad-winged Damselflies, Calopteryx maculata, Dancers (Argia), Ebony Jewelwing damselfly, Family Calopterygidae, Family Coenagrionidae, Family Lestidae (Spreadwings), Lestes australis, Lestes rectangularis, Narrow-winged Damselflies, prementum, Slender Spreadwing damselfly, Southern Spreadwing damselfly
walter sanford's photoblog 
March 11, 2017 at 6:23 am |
Wow. It’s amazing that you are able to find damselfly exuviae and even more astounding that you are able to examine them with such thoroughness. I feel like I’m reading the transcript of a CSI episode.
March 11, 2017 at 10:16 am |
Thanks, Mike. You’re right — generally speaking damselfly exuviae are more challenging to find than dragonfly exuviae, and often far more difficult to identify than dragonfly exuviae!
February 26, 2018 at 7:31 am |
[…] is relatively easy to identify damselflies (Suborder Zygoptera) to the family level based upon the shape of the prementum. Both damselfly exuviae that Mike collected are members of the Family Coenagrionidae […]
March 6, 2018 at 4:01 am |
[…] individual is a member of the Family Coenagrionidae (Narrow-winged Damselflies) as indicated by its keystone-shaped prementum, as shown in Photo No. 1. The next challenge is identify its genus and […]
March 18, 2018 at 4:08 am |
[…] Pattern recognition can be used to tentatively identify damselfly larvae/exuviae to the family level: the shape of the prementum is characteristic for each of the three families of damselflies that occur in the mid-Atlantic region; mnemonics can be used to remember each distinctive shape. […]