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Order of the Month
Common names: dragonflies and
damselflies
Metamorphosis: hemimetabolous
Mouthparts: chewing
Key Characteristics: Odonata are large insects with two pairs of membranous, many-veined wings; the hind pair is as large as or larger than the front pair. They have large conspicuous eyes and bristle-like antennae.
Biology: Young live in water and are not like the adults. Adults are common around ponds, lakes and streams. Both adults and aquatic nymphs feed on insects. They are beneficial, because they feed to some extent on mosquitoes and other small flies. Dragonflies and damselflies can hover like a helicopter or fly and dart around rapidly. They have been called "mosquito hawks" and "snake doctors."
Name derivation: Odonata = Greek word meaning “tooth
An Overview of Odonata
Families
This is a selected list of families that are important or commonly
encountered.
Class - Insecta
Order - Odonata
Suborder - Zygoptera - damselflies
Calopterygidae - broadwinged damselflies
Lestidae - spreadwinged damselflies
Coenagrionidae - narrowwinged damselfliesSuborder - Anisoptera - dragonflies
Gomphidae - clubtails
Aeshnidae - darners
Libellulidae - common skimmers This is a selected list of families that are important or commonly encountered.
A bit more about families....
Suborder -
Zygoptera - damselflies
The damselflies are recognized by the front and hind wings of similar
shape, the thin abdomens, and eyes that are separated on a broad head.
Damselflies generally hold their wings over their back. The nymphs are
thin and delicate in appearance with three leaf-like appendages on the
tail that are used for oxygen transfer.
Calopterygidae -
broadwinged
damselflies
These are our larger damselflies. The wings are a bit broader than in the
other families of damselflies. Our species have black wings, half-black
wings or red on the base of the wings. They are almost always found near
flowing water.
Lestidae -
spreadwinged damselflies
Spreadwinged damselflies typically hold their wings a bit separated but
still over their back. The wings are usually uncolored. They tend to be a
bit larger than most of the Coenagrionidae. They are frequently seen some
distance from water.
Coenagrionidae -
narrowwinged
damselflies
Most of our damselfly species are in this family. They wings are
usually clear. The bodies come in many colors including blue, purple,
green, and brown. Narrowwinged damselflies are the common small
dragonflies around ponds, lakes, rivers and streams.
Suborder -
Anisoptera - dragonflies
Dragonflies have the front wing narrower than the hind wing. They eyes
are large and make up much of the surface of the head. They tend to hold
their wings flat when at rest. Nymphs are husky and lack tail appendages.
Gomphidae -
clubtails
Clubtails are quite common dragonflies characterized by an enlarged
end of the abdomen. The enlarged section is more pronounced on some
species and makes those very easy to identify to family.
Aeshnidae -
darners
Darners are our largest dragonflies. They are powerful fliers that are
often seen overhead and are difficult to capture with a net. The bodies
are typically green or blue.
Libellulidae -
common skimmers
Most of our dragonflies are common skimmers. The wings may be clear or
colored. Often the color is different between the males and females. They
fly low over the water searching for prey which gives them the name
skimmers. Males patrol a territory and chase rival males away. They
will return to a favorite site to rest.
Recoginizing Odonata Groups:
* The first separation for Odonata is to separate the dragonflies and
damselflies. The damselflies have wings that are similar in shape.
Dragonflies have the hind wings broader than the front wings.
* Wing veins are used to separate some of the families. For example, the
Libellulidae have a section of the hind wing that has a distinct boot or
foot shape outlined by wing veins.
* Wing and body coloration may be useful to identify some species.
However, many female dragonflies can look quite a bit alike.