1. Dragonflies and Damselflies
ODONATA
Dragonflies and Damselflies

2. Forerunners of the Odonata
Paleodictyoptera
Protodonata

3. Forerunners of the Odonata
Protodonata

4. Simplified Evolutionary History of the Odonata
Carboniferous
Permian
Triassic
Jurassic
Cretaceous
Paleodictyoptera
Protodonata
Epiophlebioptera
“Anisozygoptera”
Anisoptera
Zygoptera

5. Hexapod Orders Odonata Odon - tooth Number of Species >5000
Common names
damselflies, dragonflies, skippers , darners
Typical habitats
Aquatic nymph, aerial adult
Distinguishing characteristics
direct flight muscles
-wings can’t be folded
Other features
nymphs with labial mask for prey capture
primitive wing venation - archedictyon

6. Odonata
Direct flight muscles • •

7. Odonata -Evolutionary History
Meganeuropsis - Permian

8. Odonata - Adult modifications
Modifications for a predatory life
Well-developed mandibles
Large eyes

9. Odonata - Adult modifications
Modifications for a predatory life
-orientation of thoracic segments
-changed orientation of legs
-spines on legs

10. Odonata - larval modifications
Modifications for an aquatic predatory life
Mouthparts
palp
submentum
mentum
prementum
Larvae Hunting

11. Odonata - Classification - OLD
-larvae with caudal lamellae
-wings held vertically at rest
-wings same size
Zygoptera (damselflies)
Odonata
Anisozygoptera
-larvae with no caudal lamellae
-wings held horizontally at rest
-wings different size
Anisoptera (dragonflies)

12. Simplified Evolutionary History of the Odonata
Carboniferous
Permian
Triassic
Jurassic
Cretaceous
Paleodictyoptera
Protodonata
Epiophlebioptera
“Anisozygoptera”
Anisoptera
Zygoptera

13. Odonata - Relationships
Zygoptera
Odonata
Anisozygoptera
Anisoptera
Zygoptera
Odonata
Epiophlebioptera
Epiprocta
Anisoptera

14. Odonata Zygoptera Epiophlebioptera Epiprocta Anisoptera
-larvae with caudal lamellae
-wings held vertically at rest
-wings same size
-wings petiolate
Zygoptera
Odonata
Epiophlebioptera
Epiprocta
-larvae with no caudal lamellae
-wings held horizontally at rest
-wings different size
Anisoptera

15. Aquatic nymph, aerial adult
Odonata - Suborders
Zygoptera
Zygo - equal,
ptera- wing
Anisoptera
Aniso - unequal,
ptera- wing
Number of Species
≈ 2000
≈ 4000
Common names
damselflies
dragonflies
Typical habitats
Aquatic nymph, aerial adult
direct flight muscles
-wings can’t be folded
wings are same size
wings held vertically
-slender
-nymph - 3 caudal gills
direct flight muscles
-wings can’t be folded
- hind wing larger
- wings held horizontally
-robust
-nymph - no caudal gills
Distinguishing characteristics
nymphs with labial mask for prey capture
Primitive wing venation
Other features

16. Odonata - Suborders - Zygoptera
Damselflies - distinguishing features
1. Larvae with Caudal Lamellae

17. Odonata - Suborders - Zygoptera
Damselflies - distinguishing features
1. Larvae with caudal lamellae
2. Wings held vertically at rest 17

18. Odonata - Suborders - Zygoptera
Damselflies - distinguishing features
1. Larvae with caudal lamellae
2. Wings held vertically at rest
3. Wings are same size and shape 18

19. Odonata - Suborders - Zygoptera
Damselflies - distinguishing features
1. Larvae with caudal lamellae
2. Wings held vertically at rest
3. Wings are same size and shape
3. Wings are petiolate 19

20. Zygoptera – other features

21. Odonata - Suborders - Anisoptera
Dragonflies - distinguishing features
1. Larvae with no caudal lamellae 21

22. Odonata - Suborders - Anisoptera
Dragonflies - distinguishing features
1. Larvae with no caudal lamellae
2. Wings held horizontally at rest 22

23. Odonata - Suborders - Anisoptera
Dragonflies - distinguishing features
1. Larvae with no caudal lamellae
2. Wings held horizontally at rest
3. Wings are a different size and shape
Anal lobe 23

24. Odonata - Suborders - Epiophlebioptera
Living fossils - share features of Zygoptera and Anisoptera
Zygoptera
Anisoptera
-nymphs - no caudal lamellae
-wings are petiolate
(-but no jet propulsion)
-wings are ≈ 24

25. Odonata - Suborders - Epiophlebioptera

26. Odonata - Suborders - Epiophlebioptera

27. Odonata - General Features
Mating

28. Hagenius brevistylus

29. Odonata - General Features
Mating
Penes of male
Argia (Odonata) 29

30. Odonata - General Features
Mating
Courtship
Oviposition
Copulation

31. Odonata - General Features
Territory

32. Odonata - General Features
Territory
Switzer 2002 32

33. Odonata - General Features
Life Cycle
Flies inland to feed and mature
Returns to water to set up territory and mate
Nymph leaves water and molts
Aquatic nymph

34. Odonata - oviposition
Exophytic
Endophytic

35. So far in classfication
Ephemeroptera
Paleoptera
Zygoptera
Odonata
Epiophlebioptera
Anisoptera
NEOPTERA

36. Video on Dragonflies
(Ignore the largely stupid, overly dramatic commentary)

37. ? Plecoptera Zoraptera Embiodea Dermaptera Grylloblattodea
Mantophasmatodea
Polyneoptera
Phasmida
Orthoptera
Mantodea
Isoptera
Blattaria
Psocoptera
Neoptera
Phthiraptera
Paraneoptera
Thysanoptera
Hemiptera
Coleoptera
Rhaphidioptera
Neuropterida
Megaloptera
Neuroptera
Hymenoptera
Mecoptera
Siphonaptera
Diptera ?
Panorpida
Strepsiptera
Trichoptera
Lepidoptera