|
|
Dragonflies and Damselflies
A dragonfly
A dragonfly and a damselfly are both insects.
They have 2 wings on each side.
Their wings are clear.
When they fly, they can stay in one spot in the air.
Baby dragonflies and damselflies grow up underwater.
Insects
Dragonflies and damselflies are insects, but they are not flies. They can hover in mid air, and eat other insects by catching them as they fly.There are 3 parts to their bodies, head, thorax and long, thin abdomen. They have 3 pairs of jointed legs and 2 pairs of transparent wings.
What are the differences between them?
Dragonflies and damselflies are often mistaken for each other because they appear to be quite similar. However, when resting, damselflies hold their wings together above the body, while dragonflies at rest hold their wings flat. The back wing of the dragonfly is broader near where it joins onto the body. Damselfly eyes are further apart than those of a dragonfly. Damselflies are usually smaller than dragonflies. Dragonflies can fly at 40 kilometres per hour. Damselflies fly more slowly.
A damselfly
Life Cycle
Female dragonflies and damselflies lay eggs in or near water, often on floating or underwater plants. When laying eggs, some species, or kinds, will go underwater completely in order to lay their eggs on a good surface. Out of the eggs a larva called a nymph hatches.Most of the insect's life is spent as a nymph, living beneath the water's surface. Nymphs have internal gills to breathe with and have extendable jaws to catch other invertebrates or even tiny vertebrates such as tadpoles or fish. The larval stage of large dragonflies may last as long as five years. In smaller species of dragonfly and damselfly, the nymph stage may last between two months and three years. When the nymph is ready to metamorphose into an adult, it climbs up a reed at night. Exposure to air causes it to start breathing. The skin splits at a weak spot behind the head and the adult dragonfly crawls out of its old larval skin and waits for the sun to rise. Blood flows into the wings and unfolds them. The adult insect flies off to feed on midges and flies. The adult stage of larger species of dragonfly can last as long as four months.
Go here to read more about Dragonflies and Damselflies
http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_dragons/
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/dragonfly/Dragonflyprintout.shtml
If you use any part of this in your own work, acknowledge the source in your bibliography like this:
Sydenham, S. & Thomas, R. Dragonflies and Damselflies. [online] www.kidcyber.com.au (2006)
updated © [2008] kidcyber