Feds designate 2 Hawaii damselflies as endangered

The federal government has designated two species of Hawaiian damselflies as endangered.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said  the flying earwig Hawaiian damselfly and the Pacific Hawaiian damselfly are now protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Loss of habitat has greatly reduced the species’ populations.

The flying earwig damselfly once lived on the Big Island and Maui, but now is only seen at one location in Maui.

Males are blue and black and exhibit enlarged, pincer-like appendages. Females are mostly brownish.

The Pacific Hawaiian damselfly once thrived on most Hawaiian islands, but is now limited mainly to Molokai and Maui. Both male and female are largely black.