Author Topic: Can you find the baby dragonfly?  (Read 1005 times)

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Offline water_sprite

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Can you find the baby dragonfly?
« on: July 19, 2011, 03:31:41 PM »
At least, I'm pretty sure it's a dragonfly, right?   ;D
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Offline fishin4cars

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Re: Can you find the baby dragonfly?
« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2011, 07:48:22 PM »
Actually to be technical it's a Damselfly,
   Damselflies (suborder Zygoptera), typically being smaller than dragonflies, are sometimes confused with newly moulted dragonflies. However, once a dragonfly moults, it is already fully grown. There are other distinctions that set them apart: most damselflies hold their wings at rest together above the torso or held slightly open above (such as in the family Lestidae), whereas most dragonflies at rest hold their wings perpendicular to their body, horizontally or occasionally slightly down and forward. Also, the back wing of the dragonfly broadens near the base, caudal to the connecting point at the body, while the back wing of the damselfly is similar to the front wing. The eyes on a damselfly are apart; in most dragonflies the eyes touch. Notable exceptions are the Petaluridae (Petaltails) and the Gomphidae (Clubtails).
   A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera. It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body. Dragonflies are similar to damselflies, but the adults can be differentiated by the fact that the wings of most dragonflies are held away from, and perpendicular to, the body when at rest. Dragonflies possess six legs (like any other insect), but most of them cannot walk well. Dragonflies are some of the fastest insects in the world.
Dragonflies are valuable predators that eat mosquitoes, and other small insects like flies, bees, ants, and very rarely butterflies. They are usually found around lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic.

Just though I would post this since you ask.   Hope you find it helpful... O0




Offline Tadpole

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Re: Can you find the baby dragonfly?
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2011, 03:00:10 PM »
On close inspection, after enlarging the image, it appears to be an exuvia, Which is the exoskeleton that remains after a damselfly of dragonfly moult to full adulthood. From the size, relative to the lily pad, I would agree that it is from a Damselfly.

Offline fishin4cars

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Re: Can you find the baby dragonfly?
« Reply #3 on: July 20, 2011, 07:11:03 PM »
If you look close the Damselfly is still there, just to the left of the exoskeleton, Took me a while to see it too. :o

Offline Tadpole

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Re: Can you find the baby dragonfly?
« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2011, 08:58:20 PM »
You're right!  Nature furnishes some amazing camouflage capabilities for its creatures. The exuvia, however, appears too large for this particular Damsel. Perhaps it is from an earlier moult of a larger specie. 

 

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