1. Dragonflies and Damselflies
ODONATA
Dragonflies and Damselflies

2. 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

3. Odonata
Direct flight muscles • •

4. Odonata -Evolutionary History
Meganeura - Permian

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

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

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

8. Odonata - Classification
-larvae with caudal lamellae
-wings held vertically at rest
-wings same size
Zygoptera
Odonata
Anisozygoptera
-larvae with no caudal lamellae
-wings held horizontally at rest
-wings different size
Anisoptera

9. Odonata - Suborders - Zygoptera
Damselflies
-larvae with caudal lamellae
-wings held vertically at rest
-wings same size

10. Odonata - Suborders - Anisoptera
Dragonflies
-larvae with no caudal lamellae
-wings held horizontally at rest
-wings different size

11. Odonata - Suborders - Anisozygoptera

12. 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

13. Odonata - General Features
Mating

14. Odonata - General Features
Mating
Courtship
Copulation
Oviposition

15. Odonata - General Features
Territory

16. 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

17. So far in classfication
Ephemeroptera
Paleoptera
Zygoptera
Odonata
Anisozygoptera
Anisoptera
NEOPTERA