Damselfly 1: This species is usually found beside clear, flowing water in the forest or at the forest fringe. It is an impressive flier that often skims the surface of running water, with wings flashing in the sunlight. One Odonata enthusiast has identified the species in this photo as Neurobasis chinensis chinensis (female).

Damselfly 2: This is another species found only in the forest or at the forest fringe near running water. An Odonata enthusiast from Japan has identified this species as Euphaea ochracea ochracea (male).

Damselfly 3: A common species found in secondary growth and also at the forest fringe. I wish to thank the Odonata enthusiast from Japan who has identified the damselfly in this photo as Indocnemis orang (male), and also provided the identity of the two preceding species. (ID-AS)

Damselfly 4: A common species found both in secondary vegetation and at the forest fringe. The sparkle in the transparent wings were caused by the light from my camera flash.

Damselfly 5: There was a time when I was younger, my eyesight was better, and I tried backlighted shots. This damselfly moved its wings at the moment I clicked the shutter, bending the rays of the late afternoon sun into fiery hues of the light spectrum.

Damselfly 6 (Ceriagrion cerinorubellum): This damselfly species is not uncommon. It can be found around the edges of man-made lakes or ponds in public parks. There was an article about its mating habits in a locally published nature magazine some years. Yes, I’m still keeping that magazine.

Damselfly 7 (Ceriagrion cerinorubellum): A pair locked in mating wheel formation, with the male clinging to the leaf of an aquatic plant.

Damselfly 8: With its posterior end pushed into a half-sunken log in a river, this damselfly appeared to be ovipositing. Dragonflies and damselflies lay their eggs on or near vegetation in water.

Damselfly 9: Damselflies catch their prey on the wing. They watch from their perch for small insects that wander into their hunting territory. When they have caught one, they return to their perch to eat.

Damselfly 10: An overhead shot showing the large bulging eyes of a damselfly. Like dragonflies, these “fighter pilots” of the insect world have very keen eyesight that enables them to catch other, often very small, insects on the wing.