|
|
|
Damselfly
 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Dragonflies and damselflies, in the order Odonata, are ancient insects, first appearing in the fossil record more than 250 million years ago. Earlier still, a now-extinct ancestral group appeared about 325 million years ago. Some of these dragonflies were huge, boasting wingspans of 30 inches, but all species in this group went extinct about the time that dinosaurs first appeared.
Modern dragonflies are much smaller but possess abundant sterling qualities, including beauty at rest and in flight. They also prey on such bothersome insects as mosquitoes and blackflies.
With the right plants, a dragonfly pond can be an ideal home for aerobatic dragonflies, as well as a host of other invertebrates.
The tall vertical plants such as Wild Rice (Zizania aquatica), Blue Flag (Iris versicolor), Narrow-Leaved Cattail (Typha angustifolia), Arrow Arum (Peltandra virginica), Common Three-Square Rush (Scirpus americanus), and Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) make perfect perches from which dragonflies can survey their territory and bask in the sun.
Damselflies may also be attracted to these plants. To tell the difference between dragonflies and damselflies, look at their resting wing positions. Dragonflies' wings extend straight out to the sides, while the wings of most species of damselflies are folded back over the body of the insect.
Dragonflies may lay eggs underneath Duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) or inside the stems of underwater plants, such as green algae and Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana). After hatching and experiencing an aquatic nymph phase, young dragonflies can emerge from the water by using a plant stem to pull itself out. |
chiliu has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
|
|
| Discussions |
| None | | You must be logged in to start a discussion. |
|
- chiliu
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1549 W: 0 N: 1158]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(6414) - [2005-06-28 23:55]
-
Very nice close-up!
Great colour,good details,well composition.
TFS!
![Silver Note Writer [C: 4 W: 3 N: 62]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/n-n-s.gif){kind=small}