The relatively constant wing architecture across dragonfly evolution suggests that the wing architecture of dragonflies functions well over a large range of wingspans. Water mites, Hydracarina, can kill smaller dragonfly nymphs, and may also be seen on adults. [83], Habitat degradation has reduced dragonfly populations across the world, for example in Japan. They are the perfect guides to ask questions like: Dragonfly Anatomy - Illustration & Diagram Of A Dragonfly - Animal Corner However, the majority of species live in tropical areas and have been little studied. Dragonflies, facts and photos - National Geographic Debbie Hadley is a science educator with 25 years of experience who has written on science topics for over a decade. Dragonflies Have Excellent Vision 6. In contrast to the damselflies (Zygoptera), which tend to have restricted distributions, some genera and species are spread across continents. costa - Major vein running along the leading edge of the wings. The backward speed is approximately three body lengths per second, while the forward flight speed can reach up to 100 body lengths per second. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Is a dragonfly an insect or a bug? They are our reminder to lighten our thoughts and habits. About Us AnimalCorner.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Numerous other names related to neither taxonomy nor fact have traditionally been applied to dragonflies, such as horse stinger. The infraorder Anisoptera comes from Greek anisos "unequal"[3] and pteron "wing"[4] because dragonflies' hindwings are broader than their forewings.[5]. The International Union for Conservation of Nature now considers this dragonfly vulnerable to extinction. Furthermore, dragonflies are among the more agile flyers. Dragonfly Anatomy. [53], Egg-laying takes two different forms depending on the species. The slaty skimmer dragonfly Libellula incesta (pictured, an adult female) is native to eastern North America. Dragonflies - Facts, Information & Pictures - Animal Corner Unauthorized use is prohibited. 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. Dragonhunter (Hagenius brevistylus) - Insect Identification [100] This is attributed to a legend in which Japan's mythical founder, Emperor Jimmu, was bitten by a mosquito, which was then eaten by a dragonfly.[101][102]. The wings of dragonflies are mainly composed of veins and membranes, a typical nanocomposite material. Eyes Dragonflies have much larger eyes than damselflies. The female then curls her abdomen downwards and forwards under her body to pick up the sperm from the male's secondary genitalia, while the male uses his "tail" claspers to grip the female behind the head: this distinctive posture is called the "heart" or "wheel";[39][51] the pair may also be described as being "in cop". The attacker thus looms larger as he closes on the rival, but does not otherwise appear to move. Long before the dinosaurs roamed the Earth, dragonflies took to the air. [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. Praying mantis are built to locate, hunt and subdue its prey before making . Commonly known as pantala flavescens, the globe skimmer, wandering glider, and globe wanderer, gliders are the most widespread dragonflies in the world. Dragonfly Identification Guide: Pictures - Green Nature They are also depicted frequently in Japanese art and literature, especially haiku poetry. [111] Hori Bakusui (17181783) similarly wrote "Dyed he is with the / Colour of autumnal days, / O red dragonfly. [24] The compound eyes meet at the top of the head (except in the Petaluridae and Gomphidae, as also in the genus Epiophlebia). This style creates more thrust, but less lift than counter-stroking, Synchronised-stroking, with forewings and hindwings beating together, is used when changing direction rapidly, as it maximises thrust. [70] A dragonfly may consume as much as a fifth of its body weight in prey per day. Examples include the hawkers (Aeshnidae), petaltails (Petaluridae), and clubtails (Gomphidae). Nymphs of Cordulegaster bidentata sometimes hunt small arthropods on the ground at night, while some species in the Anax genus have even been observed leaping out of the water to attack and kill full-grown tree frogs. Female dragonflies deposit their eggs on the water's surface, or in some cases, insert them into aquatic plants or moss. First, the male has to attract a female to his territory, continually driving off rival males.