Emerald Flyer 

click to enlarge

Courtesy of Quartl

This male Willow Emerald Damselfly was photographed at a retention basin in Ahlen, Germany, with a Nikon D90 camera set to 1/160 sec (0.00625), f/16, lens focal length 105 mm.

Damselflies are similar to dragonflies, but adults can be differentiated by looking at the wings. Both dragonflies and damselflies have two pairs of elongated membranous wings with a strong crossvein and many small criss-crossing veins that add strength and flexibility. Most damselflies’ wings are held parallel to the body when at rest. In dragonflies, the rear wings have a broader base and are larger than the front pair. Damselflies, by contrast, have front and hind wings similar in shape, which causes them to fly more slowly.