Dragonfly

Flying insects are usually annoying. 1 ) Dragonflies were some of the first winged insects to evolve, some 300 million years ago. Modern dragonflies have wingspans of only two to five inches, but fossil dragonflies have been found with wingspans of up to two feet. 2 ) Some scientists theorize that 3 ) There are more than 5,000 known species of dragonflies, all of which (along with damselflies) belong to the order Odonata, which means “toothed one” in Greek and refers to the dragonfly’s 4 ) In their 5 ) At the end of its larval stage, the dragonfly crawls out of the water, then its exoskeleton cracks open and releases the insect’s abdomen, which had been packed in like a telescope. Its four wings come out, and they dry and harden over the next several hours to days. 6 ) Dragonflies are expert fliers. They can fly straight up and down, hover like a helicopter and even mate mid-air. If they can’t fly, they’ll starve because they only eat prey they catch while flying. 7 ) Dragonflies catch their insect prey by grabbing it with their feet. They’re so efficient in their hunting that, in one 8 ) The flight of the dragonfly is so special that it has inspired 9 ) Some adult dragonflies live for only a few weeks while others live up to a year. 10 ) Nearly all of the dragonfly’s head is eye, so they have incredible vision that encompasses almost every angle except right behind them. 11 ) Dragonflies, which eat insects as adults, are a great control on the mosquito population. A singl...

• Lifestyle • Life Tips • Family • Inspiration • Beauty & Fashion • Culture • Entertainment • Personality • Hobby • Sports • Game • Animals • Travel • Health • Fitness • Drinks • Food & Cooking • Relationship • Business • Work • Communication • Money • More • Quotes • Science • Plant • Education • Accidents • Investment • Industry • Tech • Law • Social Media • Home & Garden As a spirit animal, totem, or power animal, these iridescent insects can teach and remind us of valuable life lessons. Meaning of a Dragonfly Often the subject of myths and legends, dragonflies have been a part of many stories, art, and culture throughout history. Revered in some legends while feared in others, these curious-looking insects have held significant meaning in various cultures. Common Interpretations That Dragonflies are Known For New Beginnings and Change What does it mean to see a dragonfly? What does it mean when a dragonfly visits your house? A lot of people believe that it’s an indication of change. Dragonflies start life in the water, but unlike other winged insects, they do not undergo a pupal stage. There is no chrysalis for the dragonfly. They go straight A Reminder to Live Life to the Fullest Has a dragonfly crossed your path? Many think that this could be a reminder to start living life to the fullest. It may surprise you to know that dragonflies spend most of their lives underwater. Before they are born as the adult dragonflies we know and recognize, they spend anywhere from two...

Dragonflies are colorful and energetic insects with long bodies and wings. They’re favorites among insect collectors because of their rare, vivid colors. There are more than 5,000 species of dragonflies worldwide. Here’s more about dragonflies’ life cycle and lifespan, along with some interesting dragonfly facts. What Are Dragonflies? Dragonflies are insects that belong to the scientific order Odonata. In Greek, Odonata means the “toothed one.” It refers to the toothed or serrated They have long, thin bodies with two pairs of horizontally stretched-out, membranous, shiny, and veined wings. The wings can be transparent or colorful, depending on the species. Their wings at the back are slightly wider than those at the front of their body. Dragonflies have large, compound eyes made up of many tiny units. The eyes are joined and make up most of the dragonfly’s head. They have short antennae and six legs that are ideal for perching but not for walking. Dragonflies are great predators and eat insects like You’ll find dragonflies flying or perching on a surface near water bodies. They're territorial and defend their areas by perching or patrolling in patterns at different heights. What Is a Dragonfly’s Life Cycle? Dragonflies’ life cycle is divided into the following stages: Mating and egg stage. Adult male dragonflies perch on plants and branches or patrol their territories. They do this to find females for mating and drive away rival male dragonflies. Once a male dragonfly find...

Pachydiplax longipennis). 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. In addition, dragonflies rest with their wings spread horizontally, rather than held vertically against each other (with the exception of one very small family, Epiophlebiidae). Dragonflies have a more powerful build and are generally much stronger fliers than damselflies. The globe skimmer (or wandering glider, Pantala flavescens), a migratory dragonfly, for example, makes an annual multigenerational journey of some 18,000 km (about 11,200 miles); to complete the Animal Factoids The winged adults are diversely coloured in a variety of shades ranging from metallic to pastel. Compared with other insects, they are large, with some having wingspans of up to 16 cm (about 6 inches). Even the smallest species are about 20 mm (0.8 inch) across. As well as being extremely Life cycle and reproduction Watch an animation of an aquatic dragonfly larva extending its labial mask to catch prey Young dragonflies, called mask,” it is a fusion of the larva’s third pair of mouthparts. Disproportionately large, the mask folds beneath both the head and thorax when it is not in use. At the end of the mask is a set of fanglike pincers used to seize prey such as worms, crustaceans, tadpoles, and small Larvae craw...

Arriving on the scene around 300 million years ago, dragonflies were one of the first insects to inhabit this planet. They've had many millennia to perfect the art of hunting, flying, and living an extraordinary amount of time (for a bug anyway). They've even developed a knack for flying backwards, which comes in handy when trying to catch flies and mosquitoes. Volker Theurich / 500px / Getty Images Dragonflies are flat-out terrifying if you're a gnat, mosquito, or other small bug. They don't simply chase down their prey; they snag them from the air with calculated aerial ambushes. Dragonflies can judge the speed and trajectory of a prey target and adjust their flight to intercept prey. They're so skilled they have up to a 97% success rate when hunting. Ra'id Khalil / Shutterstock There are few species in the animal kingdom that can compare to the dragonfly's spectacular flying ability. The insects have two sets of wings with muscles in the thorax that can work each wing independently. This allows them to change the angle of each wing and practice superior agility in the air. The area of an odonate's head is composed primarily of its enormous compound eyes, which contain 30,000 facets, each bringing in information about the insect's surroundings. Dragonflies have nearly 360-degree vision, with just one blind spot directly behind them. This extraordinary vision is one reason why they're able to keep a watch on a single insect within a swarm and go after it while avoiding mi...

3. Nymphs Breath Through Their Anus The damselfly nymph actually breathes through gills inside its rectum. Likewise, the dragonfly nymph pulls water into its anus to facilitate gas exchange. When the nymph expels water, it propels itself forward, providing the added benefit of locomotion to its breathing. 4. Most New Dragonfly Adults Are Eaten When a nymph is finally ready for adulthood, it crawls out of the water onto a rock or plant stem and molts one final time. This process takes several hours or days as the dragonfly expands to its full body capacity. These newly emerged dragonflies, known at this stage as teneral adults, are soft-bodied, pale, and highly vulnerable to predators. Until their bodies fully harden they are weak flyers, making them ripe for the picking. Birds and other predators consume a significant number of young dragonflies in the first few days after their emergence. 5. Dragonflies Have Excellent Vision Relative to other insects, dragonflies have extraordinarily keen vision that helps them detect the movement of other flying critters and avoid in-flight collisions. 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. 6. Dragonflies Are Masters of Flight Dragonflies are able to move each of their four wings independently. They can fl...

The dragonfly and its smaller cousin, the damselfly, belong to an ancient order of insects known as Odonataand have carried symbolic meaning for centuries.Most people love to have dragonflies in their gardens, if only because dragonflies love to eatmosquitoes. Who hasn’t marveled at the aerial abilities of dragonflies as they glide effortlessly over sparkling streams, pristine ponds, and lakes, plucking insects from the air with deadly precision? Dragonfly Facts and LifeCycle Surprisingly, these brilliantly colored masters of the air are classified as aquatic insects because they spend most of their lives as larvae underwater among plants or in silt. They may spend five years or more in the larval stage, molting several times before emerging as adults—and then living only a few weeks to a few months. With keen eyesight and expert airmanship, dragonflies and damselflies easily outmaneuver and catch insect prey. Their four gossamer wings move independently of one another, giving them the ability to fly forward, backward, and sideways, or to just hover in place. Bead-like eyes provide 360–degree stereovision, allowing them the ability to spot insects in any direction without turning or moving their heads. (In fact, dragonflies have the biggest eyes in the insectworld.) Dragonflies and damselflies, though similar in their life cycle and appearance, fly differently. You can distinguish them by noticing that dragonflies fly directly and with purpose, while the damselfy’s flight ...