Dragonflies and Damselflies

By Matthew Papadopoulos And Daniel Maquison

Dragonfly

Damselfly

odonata

Page 3 Characteristics. Page 4 Fact on Odonata’s wings. Page 5 Lifecycle of the Odonata. Page 6 The Feeding of Odonata. Page 7 Habitat of the Odonata. Page 8 Basic Anatomy Page 1. Page 9 Basic Anatomy Page 2. Page 10 Basic Anatomy Page 3. Page 11 Relationships. Page 12 Credits.

Index

These type of flies are often very colourful and are easily recognized. Dragonflies and Damselflies are middle to large in size and 15-120mm in body length. They can often be seen flying across a lake or river, near organic places and are seen near gardens

filled with flowers at the dusk of the night. Dragonflies and Damselflies can be recognized and known by the following features:

Abdomen is long and very slender Large compound eyes 3 Ocelli Very small antennae Mandibulate mouth parts Two pairs of membranous wings similar shape and size Complex wing venation with many cells

Characteristics

Nannophya dalei

Dragonflies and Damselflies are nearly identical if you have a look at it but are actually very different from each other you can tell by looking at the wings here’s an example:

You see how the Dragonfly (Left side of the screen) has laid out wings and fairly short ones and as you see the Damselfly (Right side) has more stiff wings and more longer.

You can also tell by the abdomen see how the dragonfly has a short one and the damsel fly has a long one?.

Fact on wings Dragonfly

Dragonfly Damselfly

Mating usually takes place on the wing and the male dragonfly (or Damselfly) guards the female as she fly's over the surface of the water depositing her eggs. The nymph (The baby) spend mostly their whole life under water and then they moult nearly up to 15 times before they emerge into a full adult Dragonfly(or damselfly).

When fully mature the final instar come and crawl onto overhanging rock(pebbles) or vegetation(plants) where they go to shed they’re last nymphal skin and emerge as a adult

getting ready to hunt and mate.

Lifecycle

Dragonfly Nymph Dragonfly nymph shedding skin

Dragonflies and Damselflies are carnivores as both adults and nymphs. The nymphs usually feed on invertebrates (An invertebrate is an animal without a vertebral

column.) They catch them with they’re specialized mouth parts that are able to reach and stretch to seize and attack they’re prey. The Adult Dragonfly (or Damsel) hunts and sneaks and attacks their prey, they also hunt flying insects by behind and puts

they’re legs on they’re prey to grab them.

Feeding

Dragonflies and damselflies are found all over Australia though, they do need water to mate, one by one (Individual) can be soon flying km to fresh water. The Male Dragonfly (or Damselfly) seems to be very territorial of intruders because they usually settle near places filled with other insects and usually water and they think that it could be a good place to hide to attack intruders from invading they’re territory. They often perch from a rock or bush Protruding (Sticking out/Out in the open) from the water and flying rapidly across the river (They’re territory). They fly over they’re territory to check if intruders are coming to attack .1 If they do attack the dragon fly (or damselfly) the dragonfly runs after the enemy persistently .2 They keep guarding.

Habitat

Basic Anatomy Pg 1

Basic Anatomy Pg 2

This is my drawing of a dragon fly.

Basic Anatomy Pg 3

Sorry , I copy-pasted this one since they’re was so much. Some got me tongue twisted! ============================= Protodonata | |

========================== Protanisoptera =====| | | | ======================= Protozygoptera ===| | ===| ============ Zygoptera (Coenagrionoidea) | | =Zygoptera=| ========= Zygoptera (Lestoidea, Calopterygoidea) | | ===| ====== Anisozygoptera (eg, Epiophlebia) ===| | === Anisozygoptera (eg, Heterophlebia) ===| === Anisoptera

================================== Protodonata | | =============================== Protanisoptera =====| | | | ============================ Protozygoptera ===| | ===| |======== Zygoptera | | ==Anisozygoptera===| ====== Anisozygoptera (eg, Epiophlebia) | | ===| === Anisozygoptera (eg, Heterophlebia) ===| === Anisoptera

Relationships

Did you know the Odonata lived 250 million years ago and they’re still here!? 250 million years ago they had a wing span of over 70 cm (1m & 10cm) imagine

that! Some of the large Odonata can fly 70 km/h basically the fastest flying insect on

earth! There are 6,000 species around the world! The Dragonflies are stronger then the Damselflies but the Damselflies are faster. The Adult Odonata usually hangs out near water. There are 320 species (Estimated) in Australia The Suburb in Australia with the most species is Sydney People call the Odonatas Larvae’s eyes “Mud-Eyes”

Quick Facts!

I will edit this every now and then in Discussion please notify me if there’s any spelling mistakes or stuff-ups.

Thank-you.Also we may be making a Brochure about the Odonata Thank-you.

Credits