But whilst damselflies may flutter around a bit more gently, with their delicate dazzling bodies, don't underestimate them. They are in fact cold blooded killers of anything small enough to fit in their clutches!
- Is a dragonfly cold blooded?
- What kind of insect is a damselfly?
- Do damselflies have tongues?
- Do damselflies have exoskeletons?
- Are damselflies and dragonflies the same?
- What is a damselfly nymph?
- Are damselflies harmless?
- Are damselfly harmful?
- How many eyes does a damselfly have?
- Can damselflies walk?
- Do damselflies eat bees?
- Do dragonflies and damselflies mate?
- Can damselflies fly backwards?
- Do mayflies fly?
Is a dragonfly cold blooded?
The flight muscles need to be kept at a suitable temperature for the dragonfly to be able to fly. Being cold-blooded, they can raise their temperature by basking in the sun.
What kind of insect is a damselfly?
damselfly, (suborder Zygoptera), any of a group of predatory, aerial insects that are in the order Odonata. Damselflies are found mainly near shallow, freshwater habitats and are graceful fliers with slender bodies and long, filmy, net-veined wings.
Do damselflies have tongues?
Instead, they have a mouthpart that they shoot out. It's like a long, hinged arm that they keep folded under their head and it's eerily similar to the snapping tongue-like protuberance the monster shoots out in the "Alien" sci-fi movies. ... Only dragonfly and damselfly nymphs have this special mouthpart.
Do damselflies have exoskeletons?
Like all insects, damselflies and dragonflies have six legs, two pairs of wings, two antennae, and three body parts—head, thorax, and abdomen. They wear their skeletons on the outside of their bodies. This tough outer covering is called an exoskeleton. ... The closely related damselfly (bottom) folds its wings together.
Are damselflies and dragonflies the same?
Damselflies have wings that are both the same size and shape, which taper where they attach to the body. Dragonflies, however, have different shaped fore and hind wings. Their hind wings are much broader and don't taper so much where they attach to the body, giving them more of a plane look.
What is a damselfly nymph?
Damselfly larvae (nymphs) are aquatic, slender, usually drab insects, with 6 thin legs, large eyes, and small wing buds on the back of the thorax. ... The wings are membranous and elaborately veined. The hindwing is about the same size and shape as the forewing. The eyes are compound, large, but usually do not touch.
Are damselflies harmless?
Damselflies have many nicknames, including damsels, bog dancers and devil's darning needles. This last one especially might give cause for alarm, but not to worry, these insects are harmless and do not sting or bite–unless of course you are a mosquito, fly, or other insect.
Are damselfly harmful?
Damselflies are not considered dangerous to humans, fish, or pets. Whether aquatic larvae or flying adults, their mouthparts simply are not capable of harming our skin, nor do they try to go after things larger than they are.
How many eyes does a damselfly have?
The prey catching organ, the labrum is present on the upper lip, and on the top part of the head, are the three eyes known as Ocelli, which helps them to measure the intensity of light. They also have two small antennae over the head to measure the air speed. The wingspan of this insect ranges between 18mm to 19cm.
Can damselflies walk?
They have a row of stiff bristles on either side of their legs, so the three pairs form a basket to scoop flying prey. However because of the positioning of the front legs Odonata cannot walk or crawl. Damselfly flight speed has been recorded as 1.5 metres per second and 16 wing beats per second.
Do damselflies eat bees?
As winged adults, they follow many of the insects they ate as larvae, chasing down their adult stages, such as midges, mosquitoes, mayflies, damselflies, and yes, other adult dragonflies. They may also eat bees, wasps, butterflies and grasshoppers, depending on the species of dragonfly.
Do dragonflies and damselflies mate?
Animal Sex: How Dragonflies Do It. Dragonfly and damselfly sex is a very conspicuous event, easily recognized by the heart-shaped "wheel" formation of mating pairs.
Can damselflies fly backwards?
They can hover, dive, fly backward and upside down, and can even reach speeds of 30 miles per hour; not to mention that they can consume their prey while flying. And Odonates have stood the test of time – their ancestors date back to 325 million years ago when the largest individuals had wingspans of up to 30 inches.
Do mayflies fly?
A mayfly's life cycle starts with the males forming a swarm above the water and the females flying into the swarm to mate. The male grabs a passing female with its elongated front legs and the pair mate in flight. ... The male fly rarely returns to the water but instead he goes off to die on the nearby land.