Typical damsel abdominal segments numbered for reference:

All odonates have ten abdominal segments. The relative lengths are as follows:

1-2: short, the first very short; the second has the male's secondary genitalia.

3-4-5-6-7: longer, all about equal length.

8-9-10: shorter; 9th has female's vulvar spine; 10th has primary genitalia, both sexes.

The last segments often have a species-specific pattern (eg, male forktails).