Damselfly Or Dragonfly? I Can't Tell!

[Jnettie]

So while I was doing a huge manicure to my flourishing plant farm today I spotted a strange black bug next to what looked like a dead bug. I took a picture and sent it to my son asking him what he thought. Funny thing is, I was so focused on the little bug I didn't even notice the HUGE bug sitting about an inch away until my son pointed it out.

Here's the thing though, I can't tell if they are damselflies or dragonflies. I don't see the split tails on either larvae picture and I can't tell what the adult is either. Is there a definitive way to tell from the pictures since I have no idea what happened to any of them?

From what I understand I won't have to worry about damselflies when I finally put some green neon tetras in my tank but I would need to worry if these are dragonflies.

Right now there are no fish in the tank. It's my first planted tank and I've been working on creating a nice lush planted space before adding fish.

Thanks!!

 

[mdjrnc]

View attachment 563924 View attachment 563925
So while I was doing a huge manicure to my flourishing plant farm today I spotted a strange black bug next to what looked like a dead bug. I took a picture and sent it to my son asking him what he thought. Funny thing is, I was so focused on the little bug I didn't even notice the HUGE bug sitting about an inch away until my son pointed it out.

Here's the thing though, I can't tell if they are damselflies or dragonflies. I don't see the split tails on either larvae picture and I can't tell what the adult is either. Is there a definitive way to tell from the pictures since I have no idea what happened to any of them?

From what I understand I won't have to worry about damselflies when I finally put some green neon tetras in my tank but I would need to worry if these are dragonflies.

Right now there are no fish in the tank. It's my first planted tank and I've been working on creating a nice lush planted space before adding fish.

Thanks!!

Idk what these are but that is wild. Is it an indoor aquarium? I am just curious how they got in there. What size tank is it as well? If its large enough and it is worrying you maybe buy some kind of fish that would snack on a little larvae.

 

[Skavatar]

https://www.sciencepartners.info/mo...phosis/larva-id-tips-dragonflies-damselflies/
"Damselfly larvae have 3 long gills at the tip of the abdomen. Dragonfly larvae look similar, but do not have 3 long gills."

 

[Jnettie]

https://www.sciencepartners.info/mo...phosis/larva-id-tips-dragonflies-damselflies/
"Damselfly larvae have 3 long gills at the tip of the abdomen. Dragonfly larvae look similar, but do not have 3 long gills."

I had read that but I personally can't tell if it has the the gills. In the second picture It looks like it might but I had just pulled it out of the water and they could have been stuck together.
I also read that adult damselflies keep their wings to their bodies when at rest whereas dragonflies keep them spread perpendicular while at rest. The adult in the first picture had is wings by is body but he was at as well and I don't know how much control they have over their wings when wet.

I'm probably overthinking this but I want to be sure what I'm up against before I subject fish to a danger.

 

[Jnettie]

Idk what these are but that is wild. Is it an indoor aquarium? I am just curious how they got in there. What size tank is it as well? If its large enough and it is worrying you maybe buy some kind of fish that would snack on a little larvae.

This is my indoor 37g bowfront aquarium.

I have set the whole thing up with certain fish in mind and none of them include fish big enough to eat the larvae.

If it's damselflies and they can live in peace I'm ok with that..I just don't want to stock the tank with Dragonfly treats.

None of the other 4 aquariums in the house have this problem so I'm assuming they came in on plants since this is the only planted aquarium. And maybe because there are two cichlid tanks that would have munched on a good-looking bug before we ever saw it!

 

[Mcasella]

Those are damselfly, dragonfly larvae are much thicker across the body in most of its stages while a damselfly is thin all the time.

 

[Jnettie]

I did a water change today and I didn't see anymore damselflies. Hopefully it was just a few and it's all done.
How long does it take for damselfly eggs to hatch if I do have eggs hanging out in there?