The dragonflies are larger and more robust, and faster fliers than the damselflies (Zygoptera). The hindwing is broader than the forewing and they rest with their wings spread.
After copulation the males of some species of dragonflies (and other insect species), accompanies the female whilst she is ovipositing (laying eggs). This behaviour is termed 'guarding' and can take two forms:
1) Contact guarding where the male is in tandem with the female. 2) Non contact guarding, where the male either settles or hovers above or near by the female.
Damselflies can be differentiated from dragonflies in that at rest most of them hold their wing along the length of their bodies. They tend to be weaker flies than Dragonflies and their eyes are separated.
