Odonata larvae are unusual in having hinged, prehensile mouthparts with strong teeth which they can shoot out to capture their prey..
In this manner, what type of mouthparts do dragonflies have?
Dragonflies, including damselflies, are predators. Their mouth-parts are adapted for predation, with wide gape and strong toothed mandibles. Larva mouth-parts like their adult but labium modified as extensible grasping organ.
Subsequently, question is, where are Odonata found? These insects are commonly found around ponds and open bodies of fresh water and large blacktop parking lots (perhaps parking lots resemble open bodies of water to odonates where they search for prey and mates).
Moreover, what are the characteristics of Odonata?
Many characteristics distinguish Odonata from other groups of insects -- minute antennae, extremely large eyes (filling most of the head), two pairs of transparent membranous wings with many small veins, a long slender abdomen, an aquatic larval stage (nymph) with posterior tracheal gills, and a prehensile labium (
How do you identify a damselfly?
Dragonflies have hind wings that broaden at the base, which makes them larger than the front set of wings. Damselflies have wings that are the same size and shape for both sets, and they also taper down as they join the body, becoming quite narrow as they connect.
Related Question Answers
What is a group of dragonflies called?
“When a group of insects gather together in a large group for whatever purpose, it is often called a swarm. “In the case of dragonflies, the swarm may be a bunch of dragonflies feeding together at one location. This is called a static swarm.Do dragonflies bite or sting?
(ii) “Do dragonflies bite people?” YES, if you catch one and hold it in your hand and carelessly allow its mandibles to reach your skin, it will bite as hard as it can in self defense. Very few dragonflies can even break the skin, but some of the big ones can do so and may induce an “ouch”.What are the different colors of dragonflies?
Dragonflies come in all sorts of colors like yellow, red, brown, and blue; sometimes the wings have brown spots and bands. Male damselflies typically have iridescent wings and some type of colorful blue, green, or purple body, while the females usually have a golden brown color, even on their wings.What attracts dragonflies to a yard?
If you want to attract dragonflies to your yard, the best lure is a body of water. Dragonflies lay eggs in or near water, where their young hatch and develop into nymphs. They live underwater for months and sometimes years before emerging as adults.What does it mean when you see a dragonfly?
In almost every part of the world, the Dragonfly symbolizes change, transformation, adaptability, and self-realization. The change that is often referred to has its source in mental and emotional maturity and understanding the deeper meaning of life.Do dragonflies fly at night?
Dragonflies (order Odonata, suborder Anisoptera) and normally diurnal. However some dragonflies are active by night. Reports of nocturnal adult dragonfly activity appear to be relatively scarce, especially with regard to North American species.What is an insect's mouth called?
Labrum - The upper lip of the mouth, commonly found in insects such as caterpillars and butterflies. Labium - The lower lip of the mouth, again, commonly found in caterpillars and butterflies. Ants utilize mandibles, maxillae, labium and labrum. Butterflies, on the other hand, utilize what is called a proboscis.Do dragonflies have crushing mouthparts?
Examples of chewing insects include dragonflies, grasshoppers and beetles. Some insects do not have chewing mouthparts as adults but do chew solid food when they feed while they still are larvae. The moths and butterflies are major examples of such adaptations.What type of life cycle do Odonata have?
Dragonflies, who depend on their flying abilities to catch food like mosquitos mid-air and to escape predators, go through incomplete metamorphosis, which has three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Female dragonflies lay their eggs near calm waters. Nymphs then emerge from the eggs.What are the two suborders of Odonata?
The Odonata includes two suborders: Dragonflies (Anisoptera) and Damselflies (Zygoptera).How big is a damselfly?
Wingspans among the 2,600 damselfly species range from 18 mm (0.71 inch) to about 19 cm (7.5 inches) in Megaloprepus caerulatus, a giant damselfly of tropical Central and South America.What is a damselfly nymph?
Damselfly larvae (nymphs) are aquatic, slender, usually drab insects, with 6 thin legs, large eyes, and small wing buds on the back of the thorax.Is a damselfly the same as a dragonfly?
- Damselflies hold their wings together and upright, while dragonflies will hold their wings open or down. - Dragonflies tend to be larger and have different shaped wings whereas damselflies are smaller in shape and their wings (forewings and hindwings)are close to the same shape.What is the smallest dragonfly?
The smallest living dragonfly is Nannophya pygmaea (Anisoptera: Libellulidae) from east Asia, with a body length of 15 mm and a wing span of 20 mm. The smallest damselflies (and also the smallest odonates) are species of the genus Agriocnemis (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) with a wing span of only 17–18 mm.How do you identify a dragonfly?
Dragonflies have a head, thorax and abdomen. The wings are attached to the top of the thorax and the legs to the bottom, so it can be seen that the thorax is tilted backwards. Thus the part between the head and the wing bases is the front. An insect thorax has three parts, each with a pair of legs.Do dragonflies rest?
Dragonflies' two sets of transparent wings beat at about 30 beats per second so they can fly at an impressive speed, but they are also able to hover in one spot, fly backwards or sideways, and snatch their prey right out of the air! Dragonflies rest with their wings held open at their sides.What order is a dragonfly in?
Odonata
What is the immature stage of dragonflies and damselflies?
Larval Stage Dragonfly larvae are also called nymphs or naiads. This immature stage looks quite different from the adult dragonfly. All dragonfly and damselfly nymphs are aquatic and remain in the water until they are ready to molt into adulthood. During this aquatic stage, odonate nymphs breathe through gills. 
