Here is a list of the dragonflies you may see on next outdoor activity:

 

Clubtail Dragonfly

Clubtail dragonflies are from the family of Gomphidae and are easily found around water bodies in the region of North America. There are approximately about 100 species of clubtail dragonflies.

Though all the members of this species have unique characteristics, most of them have club-shaped tails in common. Sometimes they’re called blade tail dragonflies.

It is said that this club-like quality at the end of the core is more pronounced in the male Dragonfly species than that of the female Dragonfly and may even be absolutely absent in some species.

There are about fourteen genera that can be listed under the general category of clubtail dragonflies.

Spiketail Dragonfly

Spiketails is the most known name for dragonflies that relate to the Cordulegastridae family. Being only eight or nine species in the single genus, spiketails are one of the lowest populous in the group of dragonflies, at least in the United States of America.

These dragonflies have elongated bodies and are usually significant. They have a brown or black core that has a unique bright yellow pattern.

These are energetic dragonflies that are mostly seen flying about and rarely ever perching like the skimmers. Many of these spiketail dragonflies can be seen in wooded areas near the Rocky Mountains.

Emerald Dragonfly

Emerald dragonflies, or in other words emeralds, belong to the Corduliidae family. They derive their primary name from their striking emerald green eyes and are generally found in most regions of the United States.

Having said that, different species of emerald dragonfly may be found in other parts of the country.

Though the practice of taxonomy among dragonflies is ongoing, fifty at least native Corduliidae species have been recognized, divided into six distinguish genera.

Of these, the American emerald is the only species that is native to North America. These dragonflies are primarily found in lakes and near forested areas.

Depending on the region, they can also fly from early spring into the latter half of the summer.

Petaltail Dragonfly

Petaltail dragonflies get their name derived from the shape of their tails, which are long and upright like petals.

These dragonflies are from the Petaluridae family, the most primitive among dragonflies (approximately one hundred and fifty million years old).

There are eleven documented species of this family recorded globally, the largest in Australia.

The curious thing about petal tails is that they can be found around fens when they grow up, unlike most other dragonfly types in water habitats. Perhaps as a consequence of this, these dragonflies take longer than that most mature into adults.

Hawker Dragonfly

Hawker is a familiar and most commonly known name for this kind of Dragonfly. It belongs to the family Aeshnidae. The genera in this family are also known to be the fastest flying dragonflies.

These dragonflies can usually be found in North America and are believed to be the most extensive dragonfly types in the world.

There are several exciting facts about hawkers, including but not limited to the fact that they mate mid-flight and then lay eggs anywhere nearby, preferably in the water.

This is also evident that female hawkers can fake death to keep themselves away from the advances of a male hawker they don’t consider suitable for mating.

Tigertail Dragonfly

Tigertailz is the primary name for dragonflies that belong to the Sythemistidae family. The family has about forty-three species, of which Tigertailz are a prominent variety.

Tigertailz looks pretty similar to species in the corduliidae and gomphidae families of dragonflies. These are small dragonflies with the slender abdomen.

Tigertailz is one of the oldest species of dragonflies and is most easily found in Australia and New Guinea.

They like to be in the surrounding lakes, small streams, ponds, or other water bodies with slow-motion water. The name they have is due to the combination of yellow and black stripes on their tail.

Saddlebag Dragonfly

Saddlebags are a species of dragonflies usually found in Canada, the United States, and the south of Mexico.

These dragonflies are also from the Libellulidae family. They are also called black saddlebags; these dragonflies like to be around slow-moving aquatic bodies that don’t have fish and particularly around a lot of vegetation.

This kind of Dragonfly migrates, frequenting the North in the spring and moving towards the Atlantic coast in the fall.

An exciting fact about saddlebags is that they are also popular as dancing gliders because they form a couple and lay eggs through a mating dance. They are beneficial to control a growing mosquito population.

Darner Dragonfly

Same as hawkers, darners also belong to the Aeshnidae family. They have an amazing black body with unique blue spots.

They can usually be found in the United States, particularly around water bodies like lakes, ponds, and streams.

There are multiple varieties of darners, and though they have several different features, they share several things in common, categorizing them into the same family.

Though most male Dragonflies in the species have bright blue dots on their abdomen or thorax, the female Dragonflies have spots in hues of green or yellow.

As other species of dragonflies contain thoracic stripes, darners do not have thoracic stripes on the top or the bottom, which is another distinguish identification that sets them apart.

River Cruiser Dragonfly

River cruisers, as the name gives the idea, as the name derived their name from their unique trait of cruising long distances, mostly along river banks and roads.

Although they are commonly known as cruisers, the family name of these cruisers, where they belong to is Macromiidae.

These are enormous kinds of dragonflies that typically have a long and slender body with unique yellow stripes. But the one characteristic that sets river cruisers aside from other species is their bright green eyes. These species are conveniently found in North America.

Skimmer Dragonfly

Skimmers are usually found in North America and are an umbrella category with approximately one hundred and five species belonging to the Libellulidae family of dragonflies.

The Libellulidae family is the most prominent dragonfly family in North America, among which skimmers occupy a large chunk of the population.

Another name for skimmers is perchers. They are so-called as they like to perch on crops and vegetation that are exposed to the sun.

There are at least twenty-six different genera under the more significant subgroup of skimmers, which can often make it challenging to classify them.

Spreadwing Damselfly

While damselflies are not precisely the same as dragonflies, both fall in the similar scientific category of Odonata, which denotes flying insects.

Spreadwing damselflies get their name because they keep their wings spread even when resting, which is usually not the case for damselflies.

In North America alone, there are twenty species of spreading damselfly species. Spreadwing damselflies, like several other damselflies in their family, like to be around stagnant or slow-moving water bodies.

They used to perch on crops and vegetation, mainly in search of food. This is also the most favorable time to catch sight of them as they make themselves visible in the sun.

Broadwing Damselfly

Broadwing damselflies are related to the family of Calopterygidae. The two species belonging to the North American genera are also famous for their massive sizes and lively colors.

River jewelwing is a highly prominent species in the whole broadwing damselflies family due to its distinctly broad wings.

These are large size damselflies, typically the largest in any region. They have bright and flashy coverings, mainly with shades of metallic green or blue.

They also have enormous, spotted wings that give them their unique look. While dragonflies used to be larger than damselflies, the River Jewelwing can be as large as a dragonfly.

 

Characteristics of a Dragonfly

Appearance

Size

Since there are several Dragonfly species, its size varies from 20 mm – 150 mm in length, and some are longer.

Body

The Head of the Dragonfly comprises a pair of compound eyes, two antennae, and external mouthparts. The stated components characterize the head of a typical insect as well. The compound eye that’s only found in arthropods is a cluster of repeating light-sensitive units, every unit functioning as an independent visual receptor. The specialized mouthparts reflect adaptations specific to the diet of the Dragonfly. As a butterfly feeds on nectar, it gets through a long tube.

Similarly, Dragonfly has a unique hinged lower mouthpart that shoots out (like lazy-tongues) to capture prey. The antennae are diverse in form and function. In most insects, antennas are packed with chemical receptors to sense smell, taste, and touch. Whereas in the case of Dragonfly, they are small in size and used to measure airspeed and flight.

Antennae:

• Short and hair-like.

Eyes

• Large and bulging.
• Well separated (damselflies) or nearly touching (dragonflies)

Thorax

This middle section of the body supports the legs and the wings of the Dragonfly. It breathes through tiny holes on the side of the abdomen called thoracic spiracles. The portions are widely adapted to serve different functions in different species of insect. Different parts of the thorax are used for different tasks like walking, hopping, swimming, grasping, digging, and various other ways. Dragonfly has two pairs of wings, mostly beneath a protective cover.

Wings:

• Two pairs.
• Both pairs are membranous, transparent, and similar in length. In dragonflies, the hindwing is generally broader.
• Both pairs of wings have numerous cross-veins forming many cells. At rest, dragonflies hold their wings outstretched, with all four of them visible. In contrast, damselflies hold their wings upright above their body and are usually pressed flat together.

Limbs:

• Six legs, short with firm bristles.
• Fore- and midlegs held out from the body and bent at elbows.

Abdomen

This is usually an elongated posterior section that houses the Dragonfly’s digestive tract and other specialized organs. Spiracles (holes) used for breathing run down either side. There are two short clerics (tails) also that are attached to the abdomen. The excretion and reproductive organs are at the very back of the waist. The Dragonfly’s core is long, thin, and very flexible. It usually has ten distinct segments. Male Dragonfly has appendages on the end of the abdomen, known as claspers, to hold onto a female during mating. The core is usually soft and covered in telescoping exoskeletal segments that allow for expansion and muscle contraction.

Locomotion

Dragonflies have a unique flight motion that is quite different from other flying insects, as closely observed by Cornell Professor Z. Jane Wang. Unlike other flying insects and animals whose wings engage in a back-and-forth stroke, dragonflies push their wings downward and backward and afterward upward and forward. Instead of trying to overcome the drag, the

Dragonfly uses breath to help it stay up high. The asymmetrical movement of its wings causes the downstroke to create pain which supports the weight of the Dragonfly. Another aspect of asymmetrical flapping is that it assists the Dragonfly in conserving energy. When the wings beat out of that phase, the back wing creates an induced flow that decreases the drag on the front wings. When the Dragonfly flaps its wings, it creates tiny whirlwinds under them. That is also really cool.

Habitat

Lakes can be natural or man-made. In southern England, almost all lakes are man-made and are particularly rich in dragonfly species. In the model of gravel and clay pits, borrow pits, and reservoirs, new lakes are being created continuously and provide excellent opportunities for management for Dragonfly habitats and other wildlife. In lakes, Dragonfly larvae are confined to the warm shallow edges where water plants flourish. Therefore, one large lake contains fewer dragonflies than a series of small lakes covering the same area. Lakes are one of the habitats for Dragonflies.

Ponds

Ponds are perfect for dragonflies because much of their water is shallow, and they are often sheltered from the wind though not from the sun. Since the beginning, most are temporary habitats and, unless managed, they quickly transform into a marsh and, ultimately, woodland.

Rivers, large dykes, large streams, and canals

The habitat provided by lowland rivers, large dykes, and canals is similar to many lakes and large ponds, supporting the same species. However, species like Common Clubtail Dragonfly (Gomphus vulgatissimus) and Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva). Since these species typically require gently flowing water in which they can breed. Hence low land rivers can be the best habitat for dragonflies.

Small streams and ditches

In several areas, small streams and ditches provide the only habitats for dragonflies. The dragonfly fauna of drainage and gutters in the levels is quite similar to that of dykes. Until and unless the rate of flow of water in streams is slow.

History

The odonates have a remarkably long and rich fossil record. Ancestors date approximately 300 million years ago (the Late Carboniferous Epoch) and predate the dinosaurs by almost 100 million years. Closely resembling present dragonflies, they had already separated from other orders of winged insects, including their closest existing relatives, the mayflies (order Ephemeroptera).

The most primitive odonate ancestors are of the extinct order Protodonta. Not just that, they owned a complete series of wing veins that can be curved alternating upwardly and downwardly, as do today’s odonates. Protodonate wings, though, lacked the pterostigma. The suborder Meganisoptera is of the Carboniferous and Permian periods (about 359 million to 251 million years ago), and it is extincted. This suborder includes well-preserved fossils of giant dragonflies such as Meganeura money, with a wing size of more than 70 cm (28 inches).

Another relict, or “living fossil,” group is the family Hemiphlebiidae. Members of this species (found only in a small Australian locale)are the same as epiophlebiids. They are primitive and sufficiently different from all other odonates to warrant their superfamily.

 

Taxonomy of Dragonfly.

Classification

Domain: Eukarya

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Subphylum: Uniramia

Class: Insecta

Order: Odonata

Suborder: Anisoptera

Dragonfly (suborder Anisoptera) is also known as a darner, devil’s arrow, or devil’s darning needle. The group Anisoptera of roughly 3,000 species of aerial predatory insects is usually found near freshwater habitats almost all over the world. Anisoptera is derived from the Greek word anisos that means “unequal,” and pteron refers to “wing.” As the hindwing is broader than the forewing, therefore their suborder is called Anisoptera. Sometimes Dragonflies can be confused by the related group, damselflies, whereas they belong to the suborder Zygoptera.

Although there are minor differences in the structures of both groups.

Diet and Hunting styles

Not just the Dragonfly, their Nymphs as well are the voracious predators. They hunt by just watching, detecting prey by its locomotion. Both the aquatic nymphs and the flying adults are some of the world’s largest and most aggressive insect hunters. Nymphs need food for growth and to become large enough to transform into adult Dragonflies.

Dragonfly nymphs live in the stagnant water and usually hang out on marine vegetation waiting for their prey, virtually any animal small enough to grab. When the target gets close enough, the nymph unrolls its labium (mouthpart that shoots out past the head) to capture its prey. They aren’t picky about what they eat. The big size dragonfly nymphs may even eat minnows or tadpoles. They don’t use much energy to search for food, so most of their consumption is converted into body tissues.

Diet and hunting style of Adults

Every species differs in every aspect of hunting.

Dragonflies are opportunistic hunters and take whatever prey is available, but each species hunts in its way. Like many Darners (Aeshnidae), some spend most of their day flying and searching for food. Others spend more time perched and waiting for the prey to pass by. Whereas many Clubtails (Gomphidae) perch on the ground and Skimmers (Libelluidae) perch on low vegetation. Each species differs in several aspects, like the time of day when they hunt (daytime or dusk), the place they hunt (forest, meadow, or marsh), and the food they hunt (large or small insects).

Consumption of food in different ways.

Adults do not use their food to grow, but they must build up reserves for the purpose of breeding. Dragonflies can double their weight as they pass from teneral to mature adult stages, growing larger flight muscles and storing fat. Adult Dragonflies convert some of their food to body tissues and eggs and sperm, but most are turned into energy for flight.

Types of Insects consumed

Adult Dragonflies will also eat any insect they can catch. While they usually eat mosquitoes and midges, they’ll also eat butterflies, moths, bees, flies, and other dragonflies. More giant dragonflies will eat their body weight in insect prey every day.

Incredible tactics of catching the prey

.Dragonflies are aerial hunters that capture and eat other flying insects. They are highly agile and catch their prey mid-air. Most dragonflies fly with an average of 10 miles per hour, but large species can top out at 30 miles per hour. They can fly backward, hover in place, turn in tight spots, and accelerate instantly. Small prey can be captured directly in their jaws or spiny legs like a basket to snare insects. Dragonflies usually perch to eat when larger prey is caught, but smaller prey can be eaten in flight.

Ways of catching the prey

Dragonflies can create a basket with the help of their legs to scoop up a bug and put it in their mouth without stopping. Other dragonflies simply open their mouths to catch food as they fly. Yet other dragonflies glean their food, which means they see the insects that perch above plant stems and leaves. Immature adults will eat caterpillars hanging from trees.

Reproduction and lifecycle

Aquatic start of life

A dragonfly initiates life as an egg laid in or near the stagnant water. Dragonfly larvae, are known as nymphs (also naiads), are aquatic. The egg usually hatches in one to two weeks. The spirit will then feed and grow, shed its skin multiple times. Each stage between shedding is known as an instar. There can be eight to seventeen instars, and nymphs can take from four weeks to numerous years to become large enough to transform into adult Dragonflies, depending on the species. At last, the instar will crawl out of the water, shed its skin, and emerge as a winged adult. This type of insect life cycle is known as “incomplete metamorphosis.”

Dragonfly nymphs have gills present inside their rectum at the end of the core. Muscle action moves the water in and out from the rectum. They can even move around by expelling water rapidly. Nymphs use their legs to crawl around most of the time but can also use jet propulsion to escape enemies and even to lunge after prey.

Generations

Most of the Manitoba dragonflies species have only one generation (from egg to adult) each year. Few of them need four or more years for one generation. Most have offsetting generations, so there are always few adults around every year.

Emergence

Some dragonflies appear at night and are ready to fly the following day. Other species appear during the day. Many species appear in large numbers over a brief period, often just a few hours. “Mass emergences” gives the idea that males and females will mature simultaneously and find mates. They also overwhelm local predators and assure the survival of enough breeding adults.

The synchronization of emergences in most species and the short lifespan of adults means that every species has a different flight season, the time of year when adult Dragonflies are hunting and mating. It has been seen that dragonflies are there from spring to early fall, but we see a series of different species, each with its different flight season of a few weeks. None of the species of Dragonfly is around all summer.

Maturation

A newbie dragonfly can fly about an hour after it develops, but it takes two weeks to fully mature. A newly emerged dragonfly is pale in color without any dark markings on it. It is referred to as “general” or immature. It will usually fly off and feed until it becomes mature and its adult colors got developed. Then it goes out in search of a wetland habitat to find a mate.

Breeding

Male Dragonflies wait near wetlands for female dragonflies to show up. They attract them in flight, often fluttering directly in front of the female Dragonflies. In certain species, males set up territories and drive off rivals.

Before mating, males transfer sperm from the 9th abdominal segment to the hamulus, a secondary sex organ in the 3rd segment. The male Dragonfly first grabs the female Dragonfly with his legs. After that clutches the female from behind her head with claspers at the tip of his abdomen. Then they mate in a “wheel” position where the female curls her abdomen to take sperm from the hamulus.

Egg-laying

In some species, after mating, the male Dragonfly will hold onto the female Dragonfly, and the pair will fly around together as the female lays her eggs. In others, the male may release the female but guards her against other males while she lays eggs. Sometimes the female lays eggs alone.

Some females lay eggs simply by dropping them into water. Other species lay egg-filled strings of jelly in water. Some have an ovipositor, a needle-like tip on the abdomen, and insert eggs into aquatic plant stems or even into the damp ground near water. A female Dragonfly may lay several batches of eggs over her lifetime, totaling several thousand eggs.

Color changes

Throughout the lifecycle,artificialartificialecies of dragonflies, adults change color as they get mature.

Generals that are newly emerged adults are often paler in coloration. When Dragonfly becomes a Mature adult, and as it becomes sexually mature, this is usually indicated by a change in coloration. Not just that, in some species, adults become darker in coloration as they age and get Over mature.

 

Ideas behind the unique naming

Several dragonfly families have common descriptive names associated with their scientific names. Examples include the hawkers (Aeshnidae), petal tails (Petaluridae), and clubtails (Gomphidae). Numerous other titles related to neither taxonomy nor fact have traditionally been implied to dragonflies, such as horse stinger.

Dragonflies have also been widespread as “snake doctors” in the American South, owing to the superstitious thinking that they nurse ill snakes back to a healthy life. The term devil’s darning needle is mainly derived from the superstitious belief that dragonflies may be able to sew up the eyes, ears, or mouth of a sleeping baby, especially one who has misbehaved. In reality, dragonflies carry no danger to humans at all.

 

Benefits of Dragonfly

Balancing of Marine Ecosystem by Nymph

Since Dragonfly eggs are laid and hatched in or near the water, their lives impact water and land ecosystems. Once hatched, dragonfly nymphs can breathe underwater, and they use a motion similar to jet propulsion to move within their environment. This makes them capable of eating harmful aquatic organisms such as mosquito larvae. The nymph will continue providing benefits to this ecosystem for one to five years until it becomes a mature adult Dragonfly.

Adult Dragonfly’s vision is everything.

The adult dragonfly has bulged compound eyes that are pretty useful in searching for flying insects. Their sharp eyes can even notice the tiniest insect crawling on the plants in the garden. If one has a heavy population of bugs and insects in the garden, one can surely experience a decrease after the presence of Dragonflies in a week or so. Dragonflies play ecological roles as predators and prey to birds, frogs, and other creatures.

Ecological Indicators

Researchers also look to dragonflies as an ecological indicator. The presence of dragonflies indicates freshwater. One of the most helpful dragonflies is that they reside low in the food chain, so the scientific study of their numbers and their health can reveal any fluctuations in marine ecosystems more promptly than studying other animals or plants. Numerous national parks are beginning to use this species to survey and document the health of the park’s water ecosystems.

Enemy to the harmful bugs in the garden

Since dragonflies can consume mosquitoes and other insects, hence they assist gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts. This also helps the environment, allowing humans to reduce the use of pesticides to kill these insects. Dragonflies can also reduce the spread of diseases by mosquitoes, deer flies, and horseflies by releasing dragonflies in the affected areas where infestations of these insects exist. These insects spread diseases like malaria, yellow fever, anthrax, dog heartworms, and tularemia. However, dragonflies are voracious and indiscriminate eaters, so they might eat other species that are beneficial for them.

Despite their fearsome outlook, dragonflies do not sting, and they are entirely harmless to humans. Moreover, these insects that come in many mesmerizing colors – copper, emerald, amethyst, sapphire, and others – that exhibit charming visual appeal for ponds, streams, and other freshwater bodies.

Diseases spread by Dragonfly.

As reported by research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, parasite-infected dragonflies suffer similar metabolic disorders like humans, which later transform into an epidemic of type-2 diabetes and obesity in humans. The exploration expands the known taxonomic breadth of metabolic disease. It offers that the research on microbes found in human intestines may provide greater insight into the root causes of human metabolic dysfunction.

Where are the Dragonflies going in U.S and Canada?

Two different varieties of Green Darners live in Canada and the U.S. The RESIDENT population of Dragonflies does not typically migrate. But for reproduction purposes, they go to the North to breed over the summer and lay their eggs in the northern aquatic system.

The newbies, or nymphs, spend the winter in that cold water beneath the thick layer of ice. In spring, they appear from the ponds, rivers, and lakes to spend the summer as adults.

The other population of Green Darners is MIGRATORY. They arrive from southern regions every year in the spring season to breed in the North. Their young emerge in the late summer of a similar year and migrate south during August and September. Interestingly, the migratory population alternates generations between breeding in the North and breeding in the south. Still, both groups of this population get to spend most of the summer in the land of mosquitoes and maximize the number of newborns they produce.

 

Differences between Dragonfly and Damselfly

If one has ever spent time near a small pond or water stream on a beautiful summer day, one has likely been buzzed by a dragonfly or two. Or might be it was a damselfly. How can you tell the distinguished?

Dragonflies and damselflies are almost similar. Both belong to the Odonata subspecies of insects. According to insect identification, approximately 5,000 species exist, with dragonflies being more common than damselflies.

Both dragonflies and damselflies are mostly found near fresh water and are commonly seen during warm, sunny days. According to Mother Nature Network, while they share some physical traits, there are four ways you can distinguish between the two Mother Nature Network.

Eyes

Dragonflies have more bulged eyes than damselflies. A dragonfly’s eyes take up mainly the head of insects, wrapping around to the sides of its head. Damselflies also have big eyes, but they are smaller than the eyes of dragonflies, and there is always a gap between their eyes.

Bodies

Damselflies have smaller bodies than dragonflies, with bodies that usually range between 1 1/2 inches and 2 inches, whereas dragonfly bodies are mostly longer than 2 inches, Wisconsin Public Radio reports. Dragonflies also have much thicker and bulkier bodies, while damselfly bodies are thin and slimy like a twig.

Wings

Both dragonflies and damselflies comprise two wings, but some unique differences in their wings can help differentiate between them. Dragonflies have two pairs of similar-sized wings, but the hind wings become broader at the base, attaching to the body. On the other hand, Damselfly’s branches are slender and taper toward the bottom, connecting to the body.

At resting position

The wings of the Dragonflies and the Damselflies are a fundamental distinction between the two; how they make the position of their wings while not in flight further assists tell them apart. A dragonfly’s wings stick perpendicular to its body like an airplane’s wings when not in flight. A damselfly’s wings fold back, in line with their body, giving them a more sleek, slender appearance at rest.

Endangered species of Dragonfly

Norfolk Hawker

Among the endangered species of Dragonfly, the Norfolk Hawker is one of them. It is one of the types of two brown hawker dragonflies that are present in Britain.

Males and females look almost similar and have a yellow triangular mark near the top of the abdomen.

The best conditions for breeding appear to be unspoiled grazing marsh dyke systems with clean, non-saline water, rushy margins, preferably with a large number of water soldiers and other aquatic plants.

Their length is 67mm. This type of Dragonfly has green eyes of considerably large size. The color of the Norfolk body is brown, with a yellow triangular mark on the top of the abdomen. Male Norfolk has a waisted abdomen, whereas female Norfolk has a bulkier core with no waist.

White-faced Darter

Another endangered species of Dragonfly is White-faced Darter.

White-faced Darter is called Leucorrhinia dubia in Latin. It is a small dark dragonfly with a pale creamy white face.

It’s a species of lowland peat bogs. It requires relatively deep, oligotrophic, and acidic bog pools with large rafts of Sphagnum at the edges in which to breed.

Larvae also occur among wet Sphagnum in depressions devoid of stagnant water.

The larvae live in submerged and floating Sphagnum matrix range and are limited to waters without fish. It also requires scrub or woodland from its aquatic habitat, which provides important roosting and feeding sites.

Physical features of this species seem some sort of this like its length is 33-37mm. As its name reflects, it has pale creamy and white frons. The wings have small black patches at the bottom. Male White-faced Darter’s wings are black with yellow markings whereas females black with yellow markings. Moreover, immature adults resemble females.

Dragonfly symbolizes change

the Dragonfly portrays change, transformation, adaptability, and self-realization all over the globe

The transformation mostly referred to has its source in mental and emotional maturity and insight into the deeper meaning of life. The dragonflies hasten flight across water represents an act of going beyond what’s on the surface and looking into the more profound implications and perspectives of life.

The Dragonflies move with elegance and grace. The Dragonfly is iridescent on its wings and body as well. Iridescence shows itself in distinct colors depending on the angle and how the light falls on it. The magical property of luminescence is also associated with discovering one’s abilities by unmasking the authentic self and eleminating the doubts one cast on their sense of identity.

The Dragonfly usually lives a more significant part of its life as a nymph or an immature. It flies only for a small fraction of its life. This symbolizes and portrays the virtue of living in the moment and living life to the fullest. Through living in the moment, one becomes aware of who actually one is, where one is, what one is doing, what you want, what you don’t, and make informed choices on a moment-to-moment basis. The Dragonfly’s eyes symbolize the uninhibited vision of the mind and the ability to see beyond the limitations of the human self. Dragonfly can be a symbol of self that comes with time as one becomes mature enough. They can symbolize going past the self-created illusions that stop the growth and ability to change.

The Dragonfly has been a sign of happiness, new beginnings, and change for many centuries. The Dragonfly means hope, change, and love.

 

Fun Facts about Dragonfly

• Many of us humans believe that these old insects will come stinging you with that tail of its. But generally, dragonflies don’t go stinging or biting people around.
• They are pretty ancient insects. They have been regarded as to be on this Earth for some 300 million years.
• The primitive dragonflies are said to be much larger than the existing ones. The prehistoric dragonflies are reported to have a wingspan of 2 1/2 feet! That’s way more than the wingspan of a modern-day dragonfly. i.e., only two to five inches range.
• After hatching, the eggs of dragonflies spend a year living underwater as larva or nymphs.
• These garden insects are short-lived. Apart from the year they spend underwater; dragonflies only stay around for just a month.
• People in Indonesia like to eat them as a treat. Having a dragonfly sitting on your head is believed to be a symbol of good luck.
• They are not connected to ordinary flies.
• Groups of dragonflies are termed swarms.
• Like bird watching, watching dragonflies is known as oding. It is so named because of the order classification of dragonflies, Odonata.
• The animals that hunt dragonflies include birds, water beetles, ducks, and fish.
• Dragonflies require warming up under the sun during the morning before their departure and then flying for the rest of the day.
• Some scientists hypothesize that high oxygen levels during the Paleozoic era allowed dragonflies to grow to monster size.
• More than 5,000 recognized dragonflies (along with damselflies) are a part of the order Odonata, which means “toothed one” in Greek and indicates the Dragonfly’s serrated teeth.
• Dragonflies are proficient fliers. Dragonflies can fly up and down straight, mate mid-air, and hover above the ground like a helicopter. If they cannot fly for some reason, they’ll starve to death because Dragonflies only feed upon the prey they catch while flying.
• Dragonflies hunt their insect prey by grasping it with their tiny feet. Since they’re pretty skilled in their hunting, the dragonflies were recorded to grab up to 90 – 95 percent of the prey released into their enclosure during a study conducted by Harvard University.
• The flight of the Dragonfly is exceptional as it has even inspired engineers who plan to design robots that move like dragonflies.
• Some adult dragonflies have a lifetime of a few weeks, while others can stay alive up to a year.
• almost all of the Dragonfly’s head is their eye, so they possess a fantastic vision that comprises of nearly every single angle except for seeing what’s right behind
• Dragonflies, which feed upon insects as adults, are a great way to control the immense mosquito population. A single dragonfly is recorded to eat thirty to hundreds of mosquitoes each day.
• Hundreds of dragonflies of distinct species will gather up in swarms, either for feeding or migration. Little information is available regarding this behavior, but the Dragonfly Swarm Project is collecting reports on hives to understand this behavior better.
• Scientists have attempted to trace migratory dragonflies by attaching tiny trackers to their wings with the help of superglue and eyelash adhesive. They saw that green darners from New Jersey moved just every third day and an aggregate of 7.5 miles each day (but one Dragonfly covered 100 miles in a single day).
• A dragonfly named the globe skinner has been identified to have the longest migration than any other insect—11,000 miles around the mighty Indian Ocean.
• A dragonfly is skilled at taking flight at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour.
• The three primary stages in a dragonfly’s life cycle include the egg, the nymph or larva, and the adult dragonfly. Dragonflies are known to lay eggs in water. Upon hatching, the larva or nymph remains aquatic for two to five years: this varies from species to species.
• Some people professionally hunt them with several techniques and strategies. Fried dragonflies are considered the most straightforward menus to cook them by just using some coconut oil. Dragonfly delicacies are famous not only in Indonesia but also in other countries of Asia.
• As per some folklore, sighting swarms of dragonflies indicated that it was going to rain soon. For some other cultures, dragonflies symbolize good luck and prosperity – especially when they happen to land on one’s head. Now that is some interesting facts about the Dragonfly.
• The wings of the Dragonfly give high stability with high load-bearing capabilities as it glides, hovers, and flies.
• Their wings consist of membranes and veins with a complex design that offers excellent agility, versatility, and performing maneuverable fliers.
• The blue Dragonfly, casually called the Blue Dasher, is a part of the dragonfly species related to the skimmer family. As primarily observed in the United States of America and the Bahamas, they typically grow from one to one point five inches on average.
• Scientists held an experiment by putting a modern-day dragonfly larva in a testing cubicle that possessed the Earth’s oxygen levels from three hundred million years back. And the results showed that dragonflies developed approximately 15% greater than their regular size.
• Dragonflies hunt smaller insects while flying. They use their incredible eyesight and high speed to locate smaller insects from quite a long distance. The Dragonfly’s legs hold the victim from escaping, which the Dragonfly swallows during flight.
• When dragonflies strike their targets, they are virtually confident that they will grab them. one Dragonfly’s attack rate is 95%.
• Apart from the verity that they can see ultraviolet light, dragonflies can see colors way more than humans. They are also proficient in detecting motion, and they can see all directions at the same time.
• An average dragonfly can develop for about 2 inches long, but the Megaloprepus Caerulatus can increase in length to 7.5 inches across the wings with its body length of more than 4.7 inches. That is two times of a common dragonfly.

FAQs

Are the Dragonflies carnivores, herbivores or omnivores?

Dragonflies are Carnivores, which means they eat other animals.

What Kingdom do the Dragonflies belong to?

Dragonflies belong to the Kingdom Animalia.

What class do the Dragonflies belong to?

Dragonflies belong to the class Insecta.

What species do the Dragonflies belong to?

Dragonflies belong to the phylum Arthropoda.

What family do Dragonflies belong to?

Dragonflies belong to the family Anisoptera.

What order do Dragonflies belong to?

Dragonflies belong to the order Odonata.

Where do Dragonflies live?

Dragonflies are almost found worldwide.

In what type of habitat do Dragonflies preferably reside?

Dragonflies reside in wetlands and places that are close to water.

What do the Dragonflies eat?

Dragonflies eat mosquitoes, flies, bugs, and bees.

What are some predators of Dragonflies?

Predators of the Dragonflies include several kinds of birds, fish, and lizards also.

How many Nymphs do Dragonflies have?

The average number of Nymphs a Dragonfly has is sixty.

What is an interesting fact about Dragonfly?

Dragonfly larva is carnivorous.

How many species of Dragonfly are there in the world?

There are nearly 5,000 species of Dragonfly in the world.

How can one define a dragonfly?

A dragonfly typically belongs to the Anisoptera family and is in the order of Odonata. It’s a kind of insect found near ponds, streams, and rivers. Dragonflies have an elongated, thin body, two pairs of enormous wings, and six legs. They are famous for their ability to flutter in the air and zip away at speeds up to 35mph. They usually feed on mosquitoes, gnats, and flies.

A Dragonfly’s lifecycle comprises multiple developmental stages like the newborn, also known as a larva or nymph, who lives for about three years in this form. Later, when it becomes an adult dragonfly, this insect lives for about six months.

Do dragonflies eat the mosquitoes?

Yes. Dragonflies play an essential role in balancing the population of mosquitoes and keeping it under control.

What are the predators of dragonflies?

Few of the predators of dragonflies include birds, frogs, fish, giants, and spiders.

Is a dragonfly classified as an insect or a bug?

A dragonfly is classified as an insect. Dragonflies are comprised of 6 legs and two pairs of wings. These are the only two of the features that regard it as an insect.

How much is the life span of a Dragonfly?

The life span of a dragonfly is categorized through stages of development. An adult dragonfly lives for almost six months. A dragonfly baby, also known as a larva or nymph, lives up to three years before becoming an adult Dragonfly.

Are dragonflies dangerous for humans?

No, not for humans. They don’t bite or sting the humans. But, a mosquito is likely to consider the Dragonfly a very deadly creature.

How many legs does a dragonfly have?

A dragonfly is comprised of Six legs.

How do you identify a dragonfly?

While identifying a dragonfly, search for a long, needle-like body, two pairs of wings, and six legs. A dragonfly has a colorful, mesmerizing body and iridescent wings. These insects land on cattails and other particular vegetation that grows near water. Otherwise, they keep hovering in the air or quickly zip away at up to 35 mph.

What is the difference between Dragonfly and Damselfly?

Although Damselflies and dragonflies are pretty similar in appearance and share the same habitat type, remember that a damselfly rests with the wings pressed together. In contrast, the Dragonfly rests with the wings spread out.

How to get rid of dragonflies?

Generally, dragonflies aren’t considered pests. If one lives near a pond or creek, you may see a dragonfly zip by from time to time.

With their colorful, amazing bodies and intricate flying patterns, these creatures are fascinating to observe and are worthy of our appreciation.

Dragonfly is an incredible creature that can ever be seen on Earth. It’s a beauty given to humans on the Earth as it doesn’t harm humans, unlike many other animals and insects. It assists people in gardening.