Dragonflies

Order: Odonata

Suborder: Anisoptera

Life Cycle: incomplete

Three Life Stages: egg, nymph, and adult

Life Span: anywhere from 2-4 years

Nymph

Weed dweller

Mud dweller

Body Description

Antennae: 2 very small

Eyes: 2 very large compound eyes that almost touch each other and make the head look small

Mouth: (lower lip) able to reach out to grasp or seize prey, under the thorax and head

Tail: none

Wings: pads

Gills: no outer surface

Legs: 6, spider like and tightly based

Abdomen: very wide, thick and compressed

Body Colors: camouflage to environment, mottled browns, olive & brownish black, shades of yellow

Mobility: very active. They crawl, dart, and free swim and hunt for food

Adult

Body Description

Antennae: 2 very small

Eyes: 2 very large compound eyes that touch or almost touch each other on top of the head, very dominant

Wings: 2 sets, hind wings are wider than forewings, strongly veined glassy wings of equal length. They separate horizontally at rest or in flight, can spread up to 6”

Legs: very small held tightly to the thorax

Abdomen: long, slender and segmented

Tail: none

Body Colors: incredible metallic fluorescent shades. Colors vary from bright greens, purples, and clarets, rusty reds, burnt oranges, blues and blacks