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Metamorphoses: simple North American Families: 11 North American Species: 407 |
Odonata
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Description: Dragonflies and damselflies are long, narrow insects 20-125 mm long, often beautifully coloured. The head is large with very large eyes and the abdomen is long and slender. They have four wings that are elongate, many-veined and membranous. The antennae are very small and bristle-like. Odonata have chewing mouthparts. |
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| Comments: Nymphs of Odonata are aquatic and have gills. When a nymph is fully grown it crawls out of the water to undergo its final molt. Once out of the last nymphal skin the adult expands to its full size in about half an hour. Adults are usually found near water and are often territorial. Odonata have a complicated mating system. Before mating, the male transfers sperm from the genital opening on the ninth segment to specialized structures on the second segment. Mating usually occurs in flight; the male grasps the female by the neck with claspers at the end of his abdomen and the female brings the end of her abdomen forward to contact the special structures at the anterior end of the male abdomen. Odonata are often seen flying in this "wheel" position. Eggs are laid in or near the water. | |||
Families in this Order |
 Aeshnidae: Darners Size: 57 to 120 mm |
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Coenagrionidae: Narrow-winged damselflies Size: 25 to 50 mm |
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Libellulidae: Common skimmers Size: 20 to 75 mm |
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