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Dragonflies are of the sub- order Zygoptera and Damselflies are of the sub-order Anisoptera which is part of the Odonata family of insects that spend part of their life cycle in the water. The Family Odonata is the oldest of the insect families and prehistoric fossils of dragon flies with wingspans around 100 times wider than today specimens have been found.

They are common from September through to January particularly in the flooded margins of lakes and are a substantial part of the trout's diet during that period and are quite common near and above fresh water. Like the Mayfly in the sketch below Dragonflies and Damselflies pass through four stages in their development; egg, larva, pupa and adult.

Whilst there are many Damselflies that are important to fly fishers in Australia there are only two Mudeye sub-families that are relevant as a significant food source for trout. Both are members of the Corduliida family and are commonly called the Cuta Mudeye and the Spider Mudeye.

Fly suggestions for mudeyes:

Chatto's mudeye

Murdoch

Craig's nightime

Taihape tickler

Tarlingtons Corduliid

as well as: bag fly, olive fuzzy nymph, olive bead head nymphs, mini woolly bugger

Fly suggestions for damsels:

Chatto's damsel

Bag fly

Fuzzy nymph

Damsel bugger

Blue spinner

as well as: olive bead head nymphs, mini olive woolly bugger, mini shrek and mini magoo.

Whilst the pupa are similar in shape and both are known as mudeyes the Damselfly pupa is smaller and slimmer than the Dragonfly pupa and distinguished by three gill appendages often represented as a tail on imitations. The colour of the pupa varies for both and ranges from yellow olives right through to dark olives and olive brown.

Their life cycle is similar to a mayfly. The lava and pupa are similar in shape and are only distinguished by size. They have 12 instars and consequently the size of the pupa can vary significantly. Interestingly they are carnivorous in nature feeding on other insects (often chironomids) but also tadpoles and dead fish. It's this carnivorous nature that dictates that when ever there are a lot of chironomids around it's likely that fish will take Damselfly and Dragonfly mudeye imitations even though your not seeing many Damselflies and Dragonflies on the wing.

A significant difference to mayflies is that Dragonflies and Damselfly lave are generally found close to shore because the mudeyes have to crawl out of the water to 'emerge'. It is only once they have dried out that the skin splits and the adult emerges. Whilst both Dragonflies and Damselflies are very territorial they do disperse after hatching seeking out new territories to call their own.

When the time comes both Dragonflies and Damsel flies have an egg laying period of up to three weeks when they are very active and during that time they lay their eggs either directly in or very close to water.

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