How do the eyes of dragonflies differ from the eyes of damselflies?

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The primary difference between the eyes of dragonflies and damselflies lies in their positioning on the head:

  • Dragonflies (suborder Anisoptera): In most species, the large compound eyes meet at the top of the head. These eyes are massive and bulging, often occupying most of the head's surface, which provides some dragonflies with a field of vision approaching 360 degrees.12
  • Damselflies (suborder Zygoptera): Their eyes are always widely separated, rather than touching or close together.13

Both groups possess excellent vision, utilizing large compound eyes that are highly responsive to movement and form to capture prey and interact with other individuals. Additionally, both dragonflies and damselflies possess three tiny simple eyes known as ocelli.1