The slaty skimmer dragonfly Libellula incesta (pictured, an adult female) is native to eastern North America. They prefer to stay low on the ground or vegetation instead of flying above the water to avoid detection. They prefer slow-moving or stagnant waters with rich vegetation; they occupy various regions across the Americas. Unlike other dragonflies, the Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly has unique flying abilities, hovering in the air and darting in a straight line.
Distinguishing characteristics and flight behavior
They are known for their relaxed, gliding flight and often perch prominently on stems or reeds. Flame Skimmers often perch on exposed branches or rocks, basking in the sun before swiftly catching prey. Black Saddlebags are strong fliers, often seen soaring effortlessly in groups, especially during late summer migrations.
- Banded Pennants are calm flyers and often glide above open water or perch on exposed stems.
- Each species has its own unique features that make it stand out, whether it’s the bright blue body of the Blue Dasher or the striking yellow rings of the Golden-ringed Dragonfly.
- Common Green Darners are typically found around freshwater habitats such as ponds, marshes, lakes, and slow-moving rivers.
- They live near ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow-moving streams, where they hunt for insects.
The dark bands on its wings give it an eerie look, and it has an unusual habit of perching atop plants and grasses and swaying with the wind. The Cherry-faced Meadowhawk has a vibrant cherry-red face and thorax that males develop as they age. Females and young males have a unique yellowish-brown hue with black triangular spots. Male Black Saddlebags are black, while the females and young males have a lighter yellow-brown hue. American Emeralds dart and hover in the air when they finally emerge as adult dragonflies.
Unlike damselflies, the front and rear wing pairs are shaped differently. In addition, dragonflies rest with their wings spread horizontally, rather than held vertically against each other (with the exception of one very small family, Epiophlebiidae). Dragonflies have a more powerful build and are generally much stronger fliers than damselflies. Dragonflies also have huge bulging eyes that occupy most of the head, giving some a field of vision approaching 360 degrees. Dragonflies are among the most fascinating insects in the natural world.
- Water can be forcibly expelled in this way, resulting in jet propulsion as a means of escape.
- The Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) is a vibrant dragonfly found across Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia, known for its intense red color.
- Before and after mating, dragonflies often fly in tandem, with the male towing the female in flight using claspers at the tip of his abdomen to grip the back of her head.
- Eastern Pondhawks are fierce predators, catching insects both in the air and on vegetation.
- The male and female contort themselves into the “wheel” position before sperm is transferred.
This dragonfly has a bright green face with black markings, hence the name. They often patrol the edges of water bodies and occasionally rest in shaded areas like trees or shrubs. The Common Hawker (Aeshna juncea) is a strong-flying dragonfly that is widely distributed across northern Europe, Asia, and parts of North America.
Eastern Pondhawk
It prefers calm freshwater habitats like ponds, lakes, and marshes with lots of emergent vegetation. Blue Dashers prefer still or slow-moving freshwater bodies like ponds, lakes, and marshy areas with abundant vegetation. Common Green Darners are typically found around freshwater habitats such as ponds, marshes, lakes, and slow-moving rivers.
Brown Hawker
They have a uniquely complex mode of reproduction involving indirect insemination, delayed fertilisation, and sperm competition. Around midsummer, females hover over bodies of fresh water and dip in their abdomens, laying eggs that hatch in about seven to eight days. Dragonfly, (suborder Anisoptera), any of a group of roughly 3,000 species of aerial predatory insects most commonly found near freshwater habitats throughout most of the world.
Disappearing fliers
The Common Sanddragon is typically dark brown to black with yellow markings. Despite its name, it can be difficult to spot because of its ability to hide in sand or mud. They measure between 1.2 to 1.6 inches, which puts them in the medium-sized bracket of dragonfly species.
Common Green Darner
Whether delicately perched on a cattail or hovering over a pond, dragonflies are a sure sign of summer. As their name suggests, this type of dragonfly bags the record for the longest-distance insect flyer. The Black Saddlebags dragonfly is a type of skimmer dragonfly found in the aquatic environments of North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Asia. She prefers cooler climates, while the Common Sanddragon is home in the sand near streams and rivers. Dragonflies are represented in human culture on artefacts such as pottery, rock paintings, statues, and Art Nouveau jewellery.
Growing up to three inches long, darners contain some of the biggest dragonflies in North America. Dragonflies belong to the suborder2 Anisoptera within the larger order Odonata. Recent numbers say there are 2,967 recorded species of dragonflies existing worldwide.
They are relatively large dragonflies, with a body length of up to 2.5 inches and a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches. In 2009, the first comprehensive assessment of insect species showed that 10 percent of dragonfly species were under threat of extinction. The animals are imperiled by destruction of freshwater habitats—particularly ponds, bogs, and fens—by pollution, and non-native vegetation. The Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta) is a sleek, dark dragonfly commonly seen across the eastern United States. It’s often mistaken for other species due to its uniform bluish-black coloring, especially among males.
Dragonflies
Living on every continent but Antarctica, these insects are instantly recognizable by their large bodies; four long, horizontal wings; and the way they hover and zip around. Dragonflies can reach speeds of up to 35 miles an hour and fly just as gracefully backward by lifting off vertically, helicopter style. Their compound eyes are so large they nearly touch, and each one has about 28,000 single eyes, or ommatidia. Northern Emeralds are slender-bodied dragonflies with bright emerald green eyes and a bronze or dark brown body.
Red-veined Darters are highly active fliers, often seen basking on bare ground or stones in sunny areas. They are aggressive predators, spending much of their time on the wing patrolling large territories. The Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) is a vibrant dragonfly found across Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia, known for its intense red color.
The Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) is a robust dragonfly widely distributed across the eastern United States, easily recognized by its green and blue coloration. In this guide, we’ll explore 25 different types of dragonflies, highlighting their key identification points, habitats, and behaviors. For example, the yellow presba, a dragonfly native only to South Africa, is losing its grassland habitat to the Australian black wattle, a commercially introduced tree. The fast-growing invasive species blocks out sunlight that sustains the grasses. The International Union for Conservation of Nature now considers this dragonfly vulnerable to extinction.
Banded Pennants are calm flyers and often glide above open water or perch on exposed stems. The Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) is a beautiful dragonfly that looks like a small, colorful flag fluttering in the wind. They are strong flyers and rarely perch, often seen gliding effortlessly over open fields and roads. The Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) is one of the most widespread dragonflies globally, known for its impressive migratory behavior.
Damselflies (suborder Zygoptera) are sometimes also called dragonflies in that both are odonates (order Odonata). Extremely strong and agile fliers, dragonflies are among the fastest insects known and are voracious predators of flying insects such as mosquitoes and flies. The winged adults are diversely colored in a variety of shades ranging from metallic to pastel. Compared with other insects, they are large, with some having wingspans of up to 16 cm (about 6 dragonfly candlestick inches).
In the same order, there are damselflies under the suborder Zygoptera comprising 3,332 species. AllInsects shares simple, trustworthy guides to identify, understand, and appreciate insects—from backyard species to global favorites. They tend to perch on low branches or grass tips and defend their territory aggressively against intruders, often flying short distances to chase off others. They inhabit ponds, lakes, and marshes, especially where there is open space for hunting. The Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) is a robust and very common dragonfly across much of North America, known for its short, thick body and distinctive markings. Four-spotted Chasers are often territorial and will chase away intruding dragonflies from their perches.
Dragonflies, like damselflies, exhibit a mating posture unique to the Odonata. The male and female contort themselves into the “wheel” position before sperm is transferred. Before and after mating, dragonflies often fly in tandem, with the male towing the female in flight using claspers at the tip of his abdomen to grip the back of her head. Pairs of some species may remain in tandem while the female lays her eggs. The Globe Skimmer has a pale brown body and transparent wings, with adults occasionally developing a golden shade.
They are one of the most widespread dragonfly species seen around the world1. Male Globe Skimmers have a row of cells on the hind wing known as secondary genitalia, which females lack. The Crimson Marsh Glider is a dragonfly species living in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The males of the species have red bodies, while the females and young ones have a yellow-brown color. These types of dragonflies are sedentary; most of their life cycle happens in the larval stage, lasting up to two years. They submerge themselves in the waters of marshes, slow-moving streams, or vegetation-rich ponds, where they hunt other aquatic creatures.
Neueste Kommentare