National Park Service Pacific Island Network U.S. Department of the Interior

Orangeblack Damsels in Distress Hawaiian Damselfly Damsels vs. Dragons: can also act as an ambush predator, Specifically, the human use Damselflies and dragonflies are a watching patiently from a perch and alteration of streams and type of insect called an odonate. then pouncing on their prey. groundwater has played a significant Damselflies resemble dragonflies role in the loss of suitable habitat. though they are smaller, more A male Habitat loss and degradation of slender, and have rectangular rather orangeblack coastal water sources has led to the Hawaiian listing of the orangeblack Hawaiian than round heads. You can easily tell damselfly the difference between a damselfly waiting in damselfly as acandidate endangered and a dragonfly by the way they ambush? species. perch. Damselflies hold their wings closed above their body when at This species is also threatened by They have been known to prey rest while dragonflies rest with their introduced species, particularly on insects larger then themselves wings open. invasive plants (such as Brachiaria and even other damselflies if the mutica) that form dense thickets opportunity presents itself. which effectively eliminate access to open water. Invasive fish and shrimp Reproduction: Small, cigar- also prey on damselfly larvae. shaped eggs are deposited into the tissues of lily pads and other Once aquatic plants. Ten to twenty days In National Parks: present on all the main Hawaiian later, the eggs hatch. The immature Islands, these insects are no damselfly larvae live in the water longer found on Kauaʻi. Localized under submerged vegetation, and populations have been recorded use gills to breath underwater. They Beautiful Hawaiian damselflies (Megalagri- on Oʻahu, Maui, Molokaʻi, Lanaʻi, periodically molt (shed their outer on calliphya) perching with closed wings and Hawaiʻi Island. You may spot skin or exoskeleton) over several them around anchialine pools in Featuring the Orangeblack months until they become fully Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National mature adults. When they mature, Hawaiian Damselfly Historical Park (PUHO) and (Megalagrion xanthomelas): they crawl out of the water onto Kaloko-Honokōhau National Adults of this smaller species have a vegetation or rocks and molt one last Historical Park (KAHO). These wingspan of 1.4-1.6 inches. time into a winged adults. sometimes cryptic damselflies have The male's head is black with large also been recorded near the mouth red eyes. The body (called the Tidbit: Adult damselflies will “play of Waikolu Stream in Kalaupapa thorax) is striped red and black with dead” as a defensive behavior if National Historical Park. red legs. The abdomen (the long tail- caught in a net. They will draw their like appendage) is mostly black with legs up under their bodies and lie Most active during periods of full a few red markings. Females have a completely still for several seconds, sunlight, orangeblack Hawaiian similar coloration pattern though until they spring to life and fly away. damselflies usually hide in vegetation they are tan and black instead of red on cloudy days. The Pacific Island and black. Threats: Orangeblack Hawaiian Network Inventory & Monitoring damselflies are endemic to Hawaii. Program monitors populations of Habitat & Diet: This is a This means they occur nowhere these and other odonates that reside lowland species that tends to fly else in the world. Historically, around anchialine pools in west amid the vegetation bordering this species was one of the most Hawaiʻi national parks. anchialine pools, coastal wetlands, abundant Hawaiian damselflies in and slow moving sections of the islands with the ability to breed –Anne Farahi, NPS streams. They catch and eat small in a wide variety of aquatic habitats. Biological Technician insects out of the air by forming a Since the 1970s, there has been a For more info:http://www.xerces.org/ basket with their spiny legs. They marked decrease in the population. orangeblack-hawaiian-damselfly/

July 2013