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Index of Bugs
Dragonflies belong to the insect order Odonata.
In the adult stage, these insects have two pairs of long narrow wings, which are attached to its thorax. The wings have veins and are often clear or transparent.
The dragonflies that you might see have wingspans of about 5 to 6 inches. Dragonflies used to be a lot bigger. Scientists have found dragonfly fossils that are over 200 million years old with wingspans of over 2 feet! These are the largest insects known to have ever lived.
Dragonflies are predators during both the larval and adult stages. Mature dragonflies are quick fliers. While flying, they catch and eat their prey. They eat insects such as gnats and mosquitoes.
Like other arthropods, dragonflies have compound eyes. Compound eyes are different from human eyes. Compound eyes are very good at detecting motion. This is why insects are better at perceiving moving objects than still objects.
Female dragonflies lay their eggs in fresh water. Dragonflies are called nymphs after they hatch. They go through incomplete metamorphosis to become adult dragonflies. This means they do not have a pupa stage during their metamorphosis but go through several nymph stages.
Dragonfly nymphs eat insect larvae and other small aquatic invertebrates, such as small crustaceans, annelids, and mollusks. Without moving the rest of their bodies, dragonfly nymphs can surprise and catch their prey by suddenly extending the jawed labium or lower lip, which extends from under their mouths.
Dragonfly nymphs use their mouthparts to bite and chew.
At the end of their final nymph stage, dragonflies climb out of the water onto a rock or a plant stalk. The nymph goes through a process to change into an adult in which it splits out of its larval skin. Many things can go wrong while the dragonfly emerges. The transformation from nymph to adult takes a lot of time and energy. During this period, the dragonfly is vulnerable and might become food for a hungry bird.
Once the dragonfly has emerged from its nymph skin, it is an adult. Adult dragonflies breathe air.
Find unique apparel and gifts at the Totally Buggin Store!
To learn more about dragonflies and to see them in action, order the Backyard Bugs DVD.
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