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The DragonflyThe DragonflyMaster PredatorMaster Predator
August 2011 Roseate Skimmer (M)
Dragonfly Photos by Dan Irizarry Freshwater Wetlands
Photo Marina Scarr
Melissa Nell – Randy Moore – Sam Starrett
Cover Photo Bobby Pastorek
Dragonfly Basics
• Scientific order – Odonata (toothed ones)
• Suborder – Anisoptera (different wings)
• Difference with Damselflies
• Dragonfly parts
• Amazing wings
• Mating
• Life cycle
• Aquatic larva
• Emergence
• Fearsome predators
Green Darner
Morphology – Refers to the form and structure of an organism.
Dragonfly Eye Close-up
The Emergence
Prince Baskettail Species
Manatee County Dragonflies
15 Species
Photos by Dan Irizarry
Blue Dasher
Regal Darner
Carolina Saddlebags
Tramea carolina
large, bright red to russet brown dragonfly with noticeable large spots on the base of the hind wing; forehead is metallic violet; size is 45-54 mm; will perch on the tops of tall vegetation in order to get a clear view of their territory.
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Blue Dasher (M) Pachydiplax longipennis white face, black tip
to abdomen; black and yellow-striped thorax; abdomen can be brilliant blue in males or black with a pair of pale yellow stripes in females; informal name is blue pirate; a swift-flying long-winged skimmer; size is 28-45 mm; on hot days it raises its abdomen to reduce heat absorption; consumes 10 plus percent of body weight in prey daily.
2
Blue Dasher (F)
face pale green; thorax is green and abdomen is
mostly blue; males have green on one segment
while females have greenish-brown or reddish-
brown abdomens; size is 68-84 mm; males and
females have a mark on their face that looks like a
target; one of the few dragonflies that migrates;
Common Green Darner
Pachydiplax longipennisCommon Green Darner
Pachydiplax longipennis
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Common Green Darner (F)
a voracious predator that will attack wasps, butterflies, mosquitoes – even hummingbirds and other dragonflies; individuals change color depending upon temperature (darkening when colder).
Eastern Amberwing
(F) Perithemis tenera
Eastern Amberwing
(F) Perithemis tenera
a tiny dragonfly with brilliant amber colored wings; thorax is brown and almost looks shortened; size is 19-25 mm;
4
Eastern Amberwing
(M)
males exhibit an elaborate courtship
behavior, selecting a territory and then
escorting females to the area to show it off;
will mimic wasps by perching on vegetation
and pumping their abdomen up and down.
Eastern Pondhawk
(F) Erythemis simplicicollis)
popular names include pond hawk and green jacket; females and juveniles are green with square black spots on the abdomen; adult males are blue with a green face; size is 36-48 mm; often found on floating mats of aquatic vegetation;
5
Eastern Pondhawk
(M)
Eastern Pondhawk
(M)may also often be seen resting on bare earth; males chase other males continuously.
may also often be seen resting on bare earth; males chase other males continuously.
Four-Spotted
Pennant (F) Brachymesia gravida
face is black and white; body is a slate blue or dark bluish black
leading to a brown abdomen; size is 47-55 mm;
6
Four-Spotted
Pennant (M)
Four-Spotted
Pennant (M)
each wing has a dark patch in the middle and a small bright white mark along the upper edge of the wing tip.
adults have brilliant green eyes; entire body is dark brown to black with yellow stripes all the way down the abdomen (other river cruisers not as thoroughly striped); this is a subspecies of the illinois river cruiser.
Georgia Georgia River CruiserRiver Cruiser
Macromia illinoiensis Macromia illinoiensis georginageorgina
7
Golden-Winged
Skimmer
(F) Libellula auripennis
wings are orange to gold; body can be brown to reddish
orange to gold; two stripes run laterally (from head to tip of
abdomen); size is 45-58 mm;
8
Golden-Winged
Skimmer (M)
males perch at tips of plants but females perch in middle; males are described as “nervous” and “wary”.
Halloween Pennant
(F) Celithemis eponina
head and body are amber and darken with age; wings are yellow and are banded and spotted with brown; wing marking pattern usually includes two bands and then a band of spots; size is 30-42 mm;
9
Halloween Pennant
(M)
species can be identified when
perched since it sits in an odd
fashion, holding its forewings
vertically and its hindwings
horizontally; adults flutter like
butterflies.
Halloween Pennant (mating)
for most dragonflies, the time needed for fertilization ranges from 15 seconds to one hour; most mating occurs in the high trees for safety, but some dragonflies mate while flying.
Prince Baskettail
Epitheca princeps
thorax and abdomen brown with pale spots on the abdomen; wings have three distinct spots; mature males have brilliant green eyes; size is 58-68 mm; often flies as high as the tree line; can be seen feeding in swarms with other species.
10
Red Saddlebags
Tramea onusta
size is 41-48 mm; body is brown and unmarked; face is pale but turns red upon maturity; abdomen is yellow-brown in females but turns red in males; hind wings have large brown “saddlebag” marking;
often seen feeding over large fields, meadows, and roadways; males patrol large territories flying at great heights.
11
Regal DarnerCoryphaeschna ingens
clear wings (females develop patterning as
they age); brilliant green body and dark brown abdomen with bright
green markings; size is 85-90 mm; males don’t
defend or patrol their territories like other
species; males fly in feeding swarms and they
rarely perch.
12
Roseate Skimmer
(F) Orthemis ferruginea
females brown; males have
lavendar-blue thorax and pink to
purple abdomen; wings clear with orange colored
veins; size is 46-55 mm;
13
widespread species; females lay eggs by
flicking them in water droplets
towards the shore; males will protect
the females.
Roseate Skimmer (M)
Seaside Dragonlet
(F) Erythrodiplax berenice
Seaside Dragonlet
(F) Erythrodiplax berenice
a smaller dragonfly; male is nearly black in color while there are 3 different female color variations; 1) golden yellow with black stripes on thorax and abdomen, 2) unspotted form is same but doesn’t have spots on wing, and 3) dark with no wing markings and golden abdomen that darkens; each female eventually becomes darker;
14
size is 28-35 mm; habitat includes salt marshes, estuaries, mangrove swamps,
and saline lakes; the closest that
dragonflies come to being able to tolerate
marine environments; can breed in waters
with high salt content.
Seaside Dragonlet (M)
Slaty Skimmer
(F) Libellula incesta
all black to dark blue in color with dark eyes; females tan to brown
with dark stripes running from head to
abdomen and will turn the blue or black color
upon reaching maturity; size is 45-56 mm;
15
females seldom seen around water except to mate; very
common in areas with quiet waters; immature females
have the tan/brown striped coloration but this species
can still mate while immature.
Slaty Skimmer
(M)
Symbolism – Mythology – Superstitions
…its scurrying flight across water represents an act of going beyond what’s
on the surface and looking into the deeper implications and aspects of life.
…the dragonfly is an agent of change and presumably symbolic
of a sense of self realization.
Today I saw the dragonflyCome from the wells where he did lie.
An inner impulse rent the veilOf his old husk: from head to tail
Came out clear plates of sapphire mail.He dried his wings: like gauze they grew;
Thro’ crofts and pastures wet with dewA living flash of light he flew.
The DragonflyThe Dragonfly
Photo Dotty MottaLord Tennyson (1833)
the end. thank you.
Photo Marina Scarr