ODONATA
Odonata is the order of insects that includes dragonflies and damselflies. To
the human eye, their shining colors and delicate-looking wings make them
beau tiful creatures to behold. In the natural world, however, they are
fearsome pred ators. Dragonflies and damselflies get their name from the
powerful serrated jaws they use to tear apart their prey. The word odonata
means “toothed jaw.”
Dragonflies and damselflies are often confused with each other because they
are very similar. Close observation reveals the differences between them. The
most obvious difference is the way they hold their wings while at rest.
Dragonflies hold their wings out to the side while damselflies fold their wings
back. Dragonflies have very large eyes that seem to cover the entire face
because they are so close together that they touch each other. Damselflies’
eyes are smaller, and there is a space between them. Dragonflies are larger
and stronger animals than damselflies and fly longer distances. Thus, they
can be found in woods and fields away from the water. Damselflies are not
such strong fliers and are most often seen around the edges of ponds and
streams since they do not normally fly far from the water.
The largest odonata living today are the Hawaiian endemic dragonfly and the
Central American damselfly, each of these species having a wingspan of 19
centimeters. The smallest is the libellulid dragonfly, native to east Asia, with a
wingspan ofjust 20 millimeters. Fossils have been discovered that prove that
dragonflies have been in existence for over 300 million years. The largest
dragonfly fos sil ever found belongs to the now-extinct meganeura monyi,
which lived 300 million years ago and had a wingspan of 75 centimeters. This
giant was a fearsome preda tor indeed, which feasted on small amphibians as
well as on other insects.
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Dragonflies and damselflies both lay their eggs on or just below the surface of
the water in a pond or stream. Some species lay their eggs on the stem of an
aquatic plant. The babies emerge from the eggs in the form of nymphs. They
live underwater, breathing through gills and preying upon water insects,
tadpoles, small fish, and even other nymphs. They hunt by hiding in the
shadows at the bottom of a pond or stream, waiting for prey animals to swim
by. They have a special lip that they can extend far forward in order to grab
their prey when it comes close. Depending on the species, they live this way
for several months or even several years. As the nymph grows, it sheds its
skin several times. Finally, it leaves the water and sheds its skin one last time.
The adult emerges, ready to live the next few weeks or months on land and in
the air. The adults do not live for more than four months, and many species
live as adults for only a few weeks.
The exceptional visual abilities and flying skills of dragonflies and damselflies
make them very adept hunters. Their special eyes give them a nearly 360-
degree field of vision, and they can detect even the smallest movement or
flash of light caused by other flying insects. They have two sets of wings that
can move inde pendently of each other. This gives them great maneuverability
in the air, which is important to these creatures because they catch their prey
while flying. They can hover, make sharp turns, and fly backward. Some
species of dragonflies can fly 60 kilometers an hour or more. Their prey
consists of flying insects such as mosquitoes, deerflies, smaller dragonflies,
and butterflies and moths. One species of dragonfly takes spiders out of their
webs.
Bloodthirsty predators that they are, dragonflies and damselflies are prey for
other animals in their turn. The nymphs are eaten by fish, frogs, toads, and
other aquatic creatures. In the adult stage, they are hunted by birds, frogs,
and larger dragonflies and damselflies. They might also be caught in a
spider’s web. What goes around comes around.
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