dragonfly characteristics
Greens often combine a structural blue with a yellow pigment. Dragonflies that patrol (those that habitually fly back and forth) employ a rapid whirring movement of their wings to raise their body temperatures. Dragonflies are agile fliers, while damselflies have a weaker, fluttery flight. Express your true feelings The forerunners of modern Odonata are included in a clade called the Panodonata, which include the basal Zygoptera (damselflies) and the Anisoptera (true dragonflies). [115], A dragonfly has been genetically modified with light-sensitive "steering neurons" in its nerve cord to create a cyborg-like "DragonflEye". Updates? (Sometimes they will mate in the air.) Dragonflies are predatory insects, both in their aquatic nymphal stage (also known as "naiads") and as adults. Dragonflies can move straight up or down, fly backward, stop and hover, and make hairpin turnsat full speed or in slow motion. The wing structure of several insects, including dragonflies, is not smooth, but corrugated; its vertical cross-section consists of a connected series of line segments. Some species have dark patches on the wings which can provide shade for the body, and a few use the obelisk posture to avoid overheating. 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Fossils of very large dragonfly-like insects, sometimes called griffinflies, are found from 325million years ago (Mya) in Upper Carboniferous rocks; these had wingspans up to about 750mm (30in), though they were only distant relatives, not true dragonflies. The meanings of the dragonfly differ from culture to culture. Females are longer and thinner than the males, who display a 'waisted' appearance. Another method of warming up used by some larger dragonflies is wing-whirring, a rapid vibration of the wings that causes heat to be generated in the flight muscles. Some species even use their wings as reflectors, tilting them to direct the solar radiation toward their bodies. Commonly known as pantala flavescens, the globe skimmer, wandering glider, and globe wanderer, gliders are the most widespread dragonflies in the world. ", "Frequently Asked Questions about Dragonflies", "Insect behaviour: Motion camouflage in dragonflies", "Linking biomechanics and ecology through predatorprey interactions: flight performance of dragonflies and their prey", "First report on predation of adult anurans by Odonata larvae", https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p035dt53/dragonflies-see-the-world-in-slow-motion, https://dragonfly.org/the-symbolism-biology-and-lore-of-dragonflies/, "An Introduction To The Study of Invertebrate Zoology. The male then grasps the female by the head with the claspers at the end of his abdomen; the structure of the claspers varies between species, and may help to prevent interspecific mating. Characteristics: Prementum and palpal lobes are flattened; 6-7 antennal segments present with all segments of similar size and shape. Seize the moment and don't hesitate 4. [62], Dragonflies generate lift in at least four ways at different times, including classical lift like an aircraft wing; supercritical lift with the wing above the critical angle, generating high lift and using very short strokes to avoid stalling; and creating and shedding vortices. They are also symbols in the Chinese practices of Feng Shui, where placements of dragonfly statues and artwork in parts of a home or office are believed to bring new insights and positive changes. dragonfly - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), dragonfly - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The Plathemis lydia (common whitetail) dashes towards an intruder holding its white abdomen aloft like a flag. ThoughtCo, Apr. A dragonfly is an insect and so has three main body segments and six legs. [105][106] Interestingly, the Hungarian name for dragonfly is szitakt ("sieve-knitter"). A dragonfly can fly forward at a speed of 100 body lengths per second (up to 30 miles per hour).. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Other kinds of dragonflies don't defend specific territories but still behave aggressively toward other males that cross their flight paths or dare to approach their perches. Their bright colours and agile flight are admired in the poetry of Lord Tennyson and the prose of H. E. Bates. [48] Similarly, selection of habitat by adult dragonflies is not random, and terrestrial habitat patches may be held for up to 3 months. Even the smallest species are about 20 mm (0.8 inch) across. [55] They breathe through gills in their rectum, and can rapidly propel themselves by suddenly expelling water through the anus. For example, the southwestern tribes, including the Pueblo, Hopi, and Zuni, associated dragonflies with transformation. https://www.thoughtco.com/fascinating-facts-about-dragonflies-1968249 (accessed May 1, 2023). In Japan, they are symbols of rebirth, courage, strength, and happiness. At the same time, more research into dragonflies needs to be done, consideration should be given to pollution control and the public should be educated about the importance of biodiversity. We thought we knew turtles. They cover most of the head and come together at the top. The relatively constant wing architecture across dragonfly evolution suggests that the wing architecture of dragonflies functions well over a large range of wingspans. Relative to other insects, dragonflies have extraordinarily keen vision that helps them detect the movement of other flying critters and avoid in-flight collisions. Adults may require emergent or waterside plants to use as perches; others may need specific submerged or floating plants on which to lay eggs. The wings of dragonflies are mainly composed of veins and membranes, a typical nanocomposite material. In Indonesia, adult dragonflies are caught on poles made sticky with birdlime, then fried in oil as a delicacy. Adults also look for opportunities to mate. For other uses, see, "Anisoptera" redirects here. Dragonfly (top) and damselfly (bottom) wing shape and venation These insects characteristically have large rounded heads covered mostly by well-developed, compound eyes, which provide good vision, legs that facilitate catching prey (other insects) in flight, two pairs of long, transparent wings that move independently, and elongated abdomens. Being cold-blooded, they can raise their temperature by basking in the sun. The mating system of dragonflies is complex, and they are among the few insect groups that have a system of indirect sperm transfer along with sperm storage, delayed fertilization, and sperm competition. [64] In general, large dragonflies like the hawkers have a maximum speed of 3654km/h (2234mph) with average cruising speed of about 16km/h (9.9mph). It was a continuous turning and returning, an endless darting, poising, striking and hovering, so swift that it was often lost in sunlight. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Their arms slant upward, forming a type of basket and enabling them to scoop up prey in flight. Dragonflies can be mistaken for the closely related damselflies, which make up the other odonatan infraorder (Zygoptera) and are similar in body plan, though usually lighter in build; however, the wings of most dragonflies are held flat and away from the body, while damselflies hold their wings folded at rest, along or above the abdomen. 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. Dragonflies also have huge bulging eyes that occupy most of the head, giving some a field of vision approaching 360 degrees. Competition for females is fierce, leading male dragonflies to aggressively fend off other suitors. A dragonfly falls under the classification of insect. [111] Hori Bakusui (17181783) similarly wrote "Dyed he is with the / Colour of autumnal days, / O red dragonfly. [12] Both damselsfly and dragonfly nymphs ventilate the rectum, but just some damselfly nymphs have a rectal epithelium that is rich in trachea, relying mostly on three feathery external gills as their major source of respiration. [94] For example, the yellow presba, a dragonfly native only to South Africa, is losing its grassland habitat to the Australian black wattle, a commercially introduced tree. Unlike damselflies, the front and rear wing pairs are shaped differently. Larger species even dine on the occasional small fish or tadpole. Should a challenger fly into his chosen habitat, the defending male will do all he can to chase away the competition. They, like the gigantic predinosaur griffinflies, lack the ability to fold their wings up against their bodies in the way modern insects do, although some evolved their own different way to do so. However, unlike other insects, the dragonfly relies entirely on flight for its movement; it does not use legs to walk but only for holding onto foliage during rest, grasping a mate during copulation and for grasping prey. How to see the Lyrid meteor shower at its peak, Ultimate Italy: 14 ways to see the country in a new light, 6 unforgettable Italy hotels, from Lake Como to Rome, A taste of Rioja, from crispy croquettas to piquillo peppers, Trek through this stunning European wilderness, Land of the lemurs: the race to save Madagascar's sacred forests, See how life evolved at Australias new national park, Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark. Debbie Hadley is a science educator with 25 years of experience who has written on science topics for over a decade. Green darners, for example, fly south each fall in sizeable swarms and then migrate north again in the spring. Accurately drawn dragonflies by Moses Harris, 1780: At top left, the brown hawker, Aeshna grandis (described by Linnaeus, 1758); the nymph at lower left is shown with the "mask" extended. [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. They are the perfect guides to ask questions like: They are also depicted frequently in Japanese art and literature, especially haiku poetry. Dragonfly as a Spirit Guide. Curling back upwards, it completes its emergence, swallowing air, which plumps out its body, and pumping haemolymph into its wings, which causes them to expand to their full extent. Here, the wings are discarded and the prey usually ingested head first. [49], Mating in dragonflies is a complex, precisely choreographed process. Some species lie in wait for prey and hide by either burrowing in the mud or resting within the vegetation. 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. These facets provide complete vision in the frontal hemisphere of the dragonfly. [70] A dragonfly may consume as much as a fifth of its body weight in prey per day. What is the lifespan of a dragonfly? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). "10 Fascinating Facts About Dragonflies." The lower jaw has a huge, extensible labium, armed with hooks and spines, which is used for catching prey. Rats invaded paradise. They are often associated with snakes, as in the Welsh name gwas-y-neidr, "adder's servant". The dragonflys speed and agility contribute to its being one of the most effective aerial predators. The first stage is known as the Apterygote stage. [18] Their altitudinal limit is about 3700 m, represented by a species of Aeshna in the Pamirs. Updated November 22, 2019. The head is large with very short antennae. Modern dragonflies have wingspans of only two to five inches, but fossil dragonflies have been found. Thanks to two huge compound eyes, the dragonfly has nearly 360 vision and can see a wider spectrum of colors than humans. Each compound eye contains 28,000 lenses or ommatidia and a dragonfly uses about 80% of its brain to process all of the visual information it receives., Dragonflies are able to move each of their four wings independently. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Compared with other insects, they are large, with some having wingspans of up to 16 cm (about 6 inches). A number of dragonfly species are known to migrate, either singly or en masse. Freshly emerged adults, known as tenerals, are often pale, and obtain their typical colours after a few days. The male holds the female behind the head using a pair of claspers on the terminal segment. [78] Amur falcons, which migrate over the Indian Ocean at a period that coincides with the migration of the globe skimmer dragonfly, Pantala flavescens, may actually be feeding on them while on the wing. Skimmers, clubtails, and petaltails scout out prime egg-laying locations around ponds. [91], Many Native American tribes consider dragonflies to be medicine animals that had special powers. An adult dragonfly's compound eyes have nearly 24,000 ommatidia each. 3. Dragonflies pull water into their rectums to respire. Often stylized in a double-barred cross design, dragonflies are a common motif in Zuni pottery, as well as Hopi rock art and Pueblo necklaces. Once they have grown and developed, they crawl out of the water in order to molt into their . Solid waste is also expelled in this manner. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/fascinating-facts-about-dragonflies-1968249. 31 Animals with Weird and Funny Sounding Names, Ophiophagy Examples of animals that eat snakes. [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. This ordinary woman hid Anne Frankand kept her story alive, This Persian marvel was lost for millennia.