Living on every continent but Antarctica, these insects are instantly recognizable by their large bodies; four long, horizontal wings; and the way they hover and zip around. A particular perch may give a dragonfly a good view over an insect-rich feeding ground; males of many species such as the Pachydiplax longipennis (blue dasher) jostle other dragonflies to maintain the right to alight there. Conversely, during hot spells, some dragonflies strategically position themselves to minimize sun exposure, using their wings to deflect sunlight. This extraordinary vision is one reason why they're able to keep a watch on a single insect within a swarm. Nymphs propel themselves quickly by sucking water into their abdomen and then spitting it out. The relationships of anisopteran families are not fully resolved as of 2013, but all the families are monophyletic except the Corduliidae; the Gomphidae are a sister taxon to all other Anisoptera, the Austropetaliidae are sister to the Aeshnoidea, and the Chlorogomphidae are sister to a clade that includes the Synthemistidae and Libellulidae. The territory contains desirable features such as a sunlit stretch of shallow water, a special plant species, or the preferred substrate for egg-laying. The wings are long, veined, and membranous, narrower at the tip and wider at the base. [71] Dragonflies are also some of the insect world's most efficient hunters, catching up to 95% of the prey they pursue. [99], Among the classical names of Japan are Akitsukuni (), Akitsushima (), Toyo-akitsushima (). All rights reserved, aquatic insects, mosquito larvae, or small fish, The International Union for Conservation of Nature now considers this dragonfly vulnerable to extinction, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. They cover most of the head and come together at the top. Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness", "An updated phylogeny of Anisoptera including formal convergence analysis of morphological characters", "Featured Creatures: dragonflies and damselflies", "Habitat Characteristics and Odonata Diversity in Mountain Ponds of Central Italy", "Sperm competition and penis structure in some Libellulid dragonflies (Anisoptera)", "The odonate mating system, communication, and sexual selection: A review", "Blue integumentary structural colours in dragonflies (Odonata) are not produced by incoherent Tyndall scattering", Parasitism of Mussel Gills by Dragonfly Nymphs, "The role of landmarks in territory maintenance by the black saddlebags dragonfly, Tramea lacerata", "Home Range, Movement, and Distribution Patterns of the Threatened Dragonfly Sympetrum depressiusculum (Odonata: Libellulidae): A Thousand Times Greater Territory to Protect? Early in the morning, they may choose to perch in a vertical position with the wings outstretched, while in the middle of the day, a horizontal stance may be chosen. The long leg joints bear rows of spines, and in males, one row of spines on each front leg is modified to form an "eyebrush", for cleaning the surface of the compound eye. Our goal is to make science relevant and fun for everyone. Prehistoric-looking dragonflies can be a little intimidating as they swoop about the summer skies. Zielinski, Sarah. [69], Becoming too hot is another hazard, and a sunny or shady position for perching can be selected according to the ambient temperature. [7] Known informally as "griffinflies", their fossil record ends with the PermianTriassic extinction event (about 247Mya). Anchoring itself firmly in a vertical position with its claws, its exoskeleton begins to split at a weak spot behind the head. It is believed to be a symbol of power, success, change, happiness, wisdom, peace, and harmony along with good luck and new beginnings. Widow Skimmer 2. Estimates differ on dragonfly flyig speed, with estimates ranging between 30-60 mph. [52], Egg-laying (ovipositing) involves not only the female darting over floating or waterside vegetation to deposit eggs on a suitable substrate, but also the male hovering above her or continuing to clasp her and flying in tandem. Compared with other insects, they are large, with some having wingspans of up to 16 cm (about 6 inches). Male Dragonflies Have Multiple Sex Organs 9. Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) as a bridge between ecology and Typically, a darner dragonfly has a thick thorax and a long abdomen, and the abdomen is slightly narrower just behind the thorax. [15] The globe skimmer Pantala flavescens is probably the most widespread dragonfly species in the world; it is cosmopolitan, occurring on all continents in the warmer regions. The body of the dragonfly consists of the head, thorax and abdomen. Perching dragonflies, on the other hand, who rely on solar energy for warmth, skillfully position their bodies to maximize the surface area exposed to sunlight. Here's a picture of a mauring male. To save chestnut trees, we may have to play God, Why you should add native plants to your garden, What you can do right now to advocate for the planet, Why poison ivy is an unlikely climate change winner. Being cold-blooded, they can raise their temperature by basking in the sun. Key features of Odonata include their ancient phylogenetic position, extensive phenotypic and ecological diversity, several unique evolutionary innovations, ease of study in the wild and usefulness as bioindicators for freshwater . [32] The general body plan is similar to that of an adult, but the nymph lacks wings and reproductive organs. The life cycle of a dragonfly has a few stages. Updates? A dragonfly falls under the classification of insect. Some species lay their eggs inside plant tissue, others attach their eggs to substrates at or above the waters surface, and some may drop or wash their eggs from their abdomen onto water. [39] One species, Gomphus militaris, even live as a parasite, feeding on the gills of gravid mussels. Platyhelminthes", "Dragonflies: status survey and conservation action plan", "The latest buzz; In the world of design, dragonflies are flying high", "Plagiarism or pragmatism who cares? Their bright colours and agile flight are admired in the poetry of Lord Tennyson and the prose of H. E. Bates. The hindwings are broader than the forewings and the venation is different at the base. The willowy praying mantis, or mantid, can be beautiful as it folds its legs, tilts its head and looks at the world through huge eyes. [83], Habitat degradation has reduced dragonfly populations across the world, for example in Japan. Reviewing his artwork, the odonatologists, BBC Reel, Intelligent Creatures, Dragonflies see the world in slow motion, 4 April 2019. Dragonfly naiads spend their life underwater, feeding on other aquatic insects and possibly plant matter. The first stage is known as the Apterygote stage. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. In reality, dragonflies present no danger to humans. Dragonflies can detect colors and moving objects. Most Anisoptera species are tropical, with far fewer species in temperate regions. Many dragonflies are beautifully colored with greens, reds, yellows and blues. [27][29][30][31], Dragonfly nymphs vary in form with species, and are loosely classed into claspers, sprawlers, hiders, and burrowers. By Nanette Kelley. The term devils darning needle is derived from a superstition that dragonflies may sew up the eyes, ears, or mouth of a sleeping child, especially one who has misbehaved. When they expel the water, they are propelled forward. [81] Trematodes are parasites of vertebrates such as frogs, with complex life cycles often involving a period as a stage called a cercaria in a secondary host, a snail. Different species of dragonfly larvae can be described as sprawlers, burrowers, hiders, or claspers. The result is a "micro-aerial vehicle that's smaller, lighter and stealthier than anything else that's manmade". [105][106] Interestingly, the Hungarian name for dragonfly is szitakt ("sieve-knitter"). Many dragonflies have brilliant iridescent or metallic colours produced by structural colouration, making them conspicuous in flight. Whether delicately perched on a cattail or hovering over a pond, dragonflies are a sure sign of summer. [25], In high-speed territorial battles between male Australian emperors (Hemianax papuensis), the fighting dragonflies adjust their flight paths to appear stationary to their rivals, minimizing the chance of being detected as they approach. All 93. The second and third segments are enlarged, and in males, on the underside of the second segment has a cleft, forming the secondary genitalia consisting of the lamina, hamule, genital lobe, and penis. They referred to dragonflies as "snake doctors" because they believed dragonflies followed snakes into the ground and healed them if they were injured. [62], Old and unreliable claims are made that dragonflies such as the southern giant darner can fly up to 97km/h (60mph). Break free from illusions or limitations 6. (2023, April 5). They undergo between six and 15 molts before emerging as fully formed adult dragonflies, a process that takes about 12 hours. Many dragonfly families have descriptive common names associated with their scientific names. Firstly, the body structure of dragonfly was analyzed, and then the design scheme of flapping wing micro air vehicle was proposed based on the flight motion characteristics and musculoskeletal . Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Further information on the extinct genus of dragonfly: This is not to say that other species may not use the same technique, only that this species has been studied. The little-known history of the Florida panther. The abdomen is divided into ten segments. Dragonflies do not walk. [2] They are fast, agile fliers capable of highly accurate aerial ambush, sometimes migrating across oceans, and often live near water. In contrast to the damselflies (Zygoptera), which tend to have restricted distributions, some genera and species are spread across continents. Dragonflies having simple flaps shed the eggs in water, mostly in flight. Debbie Hadley is a science educator with 25 years of experience who has written on science topics for over a decade. It depends. They can flap each wing up and down, and rotate their wings forward and back on an axis. The structure and mechanical properties of dragonfly wings and their The eyes take up most of the head; the thorax is approximately two to three times the size of the head, and the wings and legs are attached to the thorax. Their shape, metabolism, and respiration differ concordantly with the microhabitat they occupy. Some species lie in wait for prey and hide by either burrowing in the mud or resting within the vegetation. In other families such as clubtails (Gomphidae), cruisers (Macromiidae), emeralds (Corduliidae), and skimmers (Libellulidae), the female lays eggs by tapping the surface of the water repeatedly with her abdomen, by shaking the eggs out of her abdomen as she flies along, or by placing the eggs on vegetation. A dragonfly can fly forward at a speed of 100 body lengths per second (up to 30 miles per hour).. Dragonflies have 6 legs and two pairs of wings. 14 Fun Facts About Dragonflies | Science| Smithsonian Magazine This ordinary woman hid Anne Frankand kept her story alive, This Persian marvel was lost for millennia. The Differences Between Animals & Insects | Sciencing 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. [20] In Kamchatka, only a few species of dragonfly including the treeline emerald Somatochlora arctica and some aeshnids such as Aeshna subarctica are found, possibly because of the low temperature of the lakes there. [51] They are almost exclusively carnivorous, eating a wide variety of insects ranging from small midges and mosquitoes to butterflies, moths, damselflies, and smaller dragonflies. Dragonflies have a more powerful build and are generally much stronger fliers than damselflies. Sperm is produced at the 9th segment, and is transferred to the secondary genitalia prior to mating. [56] Some naiads, such as the later stages of Antipodophlebia asthenes, hunt on land. 14 Fun Facts About Dragonflies.Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Institution, 5 Oct. 2011. Griffenflies (Meganisoptera), the gigantic precursors to modern dragonflies had wingspans of over two feet and dotted the skies during the Carboniferous period over 300 million years ago., There's a good reason why you see dragonflies and damselflies around ponds and lakes: They're aquatic! Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. These can have a local impact on dragonfly populations; methods of reducing the attractiveness of structures such as solar panels are under experimentation. The dragonfly mistakes the pebbles for prey, gets tangled in the hair, and is dragged to the ground by the weight. The lower jaw has a huge, extensible labium, armed with hooks and spines, which is used for catching prey. Females are longer and thinner than the males, who display a 'waisted' appearance. [62], The wings are powered directly, unlike most families of insects, with the flight muscles attached to the wing bases. The leading edge of each wing has a node where other veins join the marginal vein, and the wing is able to flex at this point. The dragonfly and its smaller cousin, the damselfly, belong to an ancient order of insects known as Odonata and have carried symbolic meaning for centuries. Modern dragonflies have wingspans of only two to five inches, but fossil dragonflies have been found. They have large eyes that take up nearly the entire head surface and when not contiguous are not as widely separated as within the damselflies (see the key below). Third largest order of insects, with approximately 11 families and 407 species in North America and 29 families and >5000 species worldwide. Dragonfly wings behave highly dynamically during flight, flexing and twisting during each beat. This behaviour involves doing a "handstand", perching with the body raised and the abdomen pointing towards the sun, thus minimising the amount of solar radiation received. Dragonflies Thermoregulate Their Bodies. [26] The legs are rarely used for walking, but are used to catch and hold prey, for perching, and for climbing on plants. What we can learn from Chernobyl's strays. The male and female contort themselves into the wheel position before sperm is transferred. Libellula saturata. Female dragonflies deposit their eggs on the water's surface, or in some cases, insert them into aquatic plants or moss. Flame Skimmer 1. Dragonfly nymphs may swallow cercariae, or these may tunnel through a nymph's body wall; they then enter the gut and form a cyst or metacercaria, which remains in the nymph for the whole of its development. The winged adults are diversely coloured in a variety of shades ranging from metallic to pastel.