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Dragonflies (order Odonata) are divided into two distinct sub-orders, the Zygoptera or Damselflies and the Anisoptera or Dragonflies. Useful tips. Different species are on the wing at different times of the year. This can help you narrow down the list of potential species that you could have sighted.
- Dragonflies
Characteristics Of True Dragonflies. Body: Large and robust....
- Damselflies
All photos published on this site are copyright of the...
- Banded Demoiselle
Larval Information: Demoiselle larvae have long bodies,...
- Vagrant Darter
All photos published on this site are copyright of the...
- Ruddy Darter
Larval Information: Darters have a squat, spider-like...
- Common Hawker
Larval Information: Hawkers have a long streamlined...
- Four-Spotted Chaser
Larval Information: Skimmers and Chasers have a squat,...
- Yellow-Winged Darter
Larval Information: Darters have a squat, spider-like...
- Dragonflies
- What Is A Dragonfly?
- Watery Beginnings
- Mating Wheel
- Disappearing Fliers
Whether delicately perched on a cattail or hovering over a pond, dragonflies are a sure sign of summer. Living on every continent but Antarctica, these insectsare instantly recognizable by their large bodies; four long, horizontal wings; and the way they hover and zip around. Dragonflies can reach speeds of up to 35 miles an hour and fly just as gr...
Dragonflies begin their lives in the water. Around midsummer, females hover over bodies of fresh water and dip in their abdomens, laying eggs that hatch in about seven to eight days. Called naiads or nymphs, these larvae stay in the water for up to three years, hunting aquatic insects, mosquito larvae, or small fishwith a lower jaw that reaches out...
Adults also look for opportunities to mate. First the male goes through what’s called self-insemination, curling his body to transfer sperm from his primary genitalia, at the tip of his abdomen, to the secondary genitalia, just below the thorax. When he finds a receptive female, he grasps her behind her head with claspers at the tip of his abdomen,...
Dragonflies are important to their environments both as predators (particularly of mosquitos) and as prey to birds and fish. Because these insects require stable oxygen levels and clean water, scientists consider them reliable bioindicatorsof the health of an ecosystem. In 2009, the first comprehensive assessment of insect species showed that 10 pe...
- 15 min
A Dragonfly has two large compound eyes which take up most of its head. Dragonflies have long, delicate, membranous wings which are transparent and some have light yellow coloring near the tips. Their bodies are long and slender and they have a short antennae.
Jul 1, 2024 · Dragonfly species (Anisoptera) are characterized by long bodies with two narrow pairs of intricately veined, membranous wings that, while generally transparent, may have coloured markings. Unlike damselflies, the front and rear wing pairs are shaped differently.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
British dragonfly and damselfly guide: how to identify common species and where to see them - Countryfile.com. Learn all about these amazing insects, including species identification and where to see them in BBC Countryfile Magazine expert guide.
Characteristics Of True Dragonflies. Body: Large and robust. Wings: Hind wings are usually shorter and broader than the forewings. Eyes: Very large and usually touch at the top of the head. Southern Hawker image by Christophe Brochard.
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A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the infraorder Anisoptera below the order Odonata. About 3,000 extant species of dragonflies are known. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Loss of wetland habitat threatens dragonfly populations around the world.
