Damselflies and dragonflies are among the most beautiful and spectacular insects. They are also among the most ancient of creatures and, millions of years ago, included some of the largest flying invertebrates ever. Odonates are carnivorous in both nymph and adult forms, with a large appetite for smaller insects. Their lives are closely tied to fresh water as the nymphs are at least semi-aquatic. Dragonflies can be distinguished from damselflies by larger eyes, that usually touch, different shaped fore- and hindwings which they hold horizontally when at rest and by their more powerful flight. Damselflies have similar shaped wings which they hold close to the body when resting.

 

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DRAGONFLY MATING AND EGG LAYING

Video below showing dragonflies mating and egg laying. This clip shows close-ups of tandom pair of dragonflies copulating in the wheel position. Note that as the female lays her eggs in the water, the male follows and guards her to prevent any other males from mating with her. 

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Dragonfly Eggs Hatching: Shows oviposition by tapping the abdomen on the water, followed by amazing close-ups of eggs developing and hatching into a prolarva, which molts almost immediately into a 1st instar nymph.

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Dragonfly Larvae Hunting Backswimmers: Fantastic close-up that shows the operation of the rectal gills; full speed shots of strikes at prey and slow-motion replays showing labium extending; and some footage of captured bugs being eaten.

Once the nymph is fully grown, and the weather is right, it will complete the metamorphosis into a dragonfly by crawling out of the water up the stem of a plant. The nymph will shed its skin onto the plant and will then be a young dragonfly. The skin that the nymph left behind is called the exuvia and you can find the exuvia still stuck to the stem for a long time after the dragonfly has left it.

Video below showing and adult dragonfly emerging- clip from Attenborough’s “Life in the Undergrowth”, 

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 ADULTS

A dragonfly keeping an eye out for trouble, taking off and landing.

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Dragonfly Catching a Fruit Fly – slow motion: note the use of the legs to grab the pray and bring it to the mouthparts while in flight.

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DRAGONFLIES

 

 

DAMSELFLIES