Dragonfly

Dragonfly, common name for robust carnivorous insects of order Odonata [Gk "toothed," referring to mouth parts]. Name may include closely related DAMSELFLIES (suborder Zygoptera), but properly refers only to members of suborder Anisoptera. About 2800 species of anisopterids are known worldwide, 143 from Canada.

Structure

Dragonflies have large, compound eyes, well-developed mouth parts and 2 pairs of membranous wings, with hindwings wider at the base than forewings. Larvae are aquatic, but lack tail gills. They obtain oxygen by taking water into the hindgut; rapid expulsion of this water allows them to propel themselves.

Reproduction and Development

Eggs are usually deposited in water or in aquatic vegetation. Larval life may last 1-3 years or more and feed on many kinds of aquatic insects including the larvae of MOSQUITOES. The transformation from drab, aquatic larva to brightly coloured, aerodynamically adept, terrestrial adult is dramatic. Adults feed on many kinds of flying insects.

Author G. PRITCHARD

Links to Other Sites
Canadian Biodiversity Website
A great information source for all budding biologists. Learn about biodiversity theory, natural history, and conservation issues. From McGill’s Redpath Museum.

E-Fauna BC
An extensively illustrated guide to wildlife species found in British Columbia. Covers bats, birds, beetles, bugs and much more. Also features an insect glossary and notes about invasive species. A biogeographic initiative of the Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, UBC.

The Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes
This website provides information about the scope and contents of the Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes. Check the “Index” link for illustrated descriptions of various taxonomic groups.

University of Alberta's E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Check out images and information about insect specimens found in the University of Alberta's E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum, one of the most significant insect collections in Canada.

Benthic invertebrates
An online guide to benthic invertebrates found in or on the bottom sediments of rivers, streams, and lakes in Ontario and other regions of Canada. From ecospark.ca

Aquatic Invertebrates of Alberta Online Textbook
An online guide to all major groups of Alberta's aquatic invertebrates. Offers illustrated details of the natural history of each group as well as tips on collecting and preserving specimens. A University of Alberta website.