Shanti
May 27th, 2007, 08:35 PM
In my belief system this critter represents the dance of light, carrying the suns beam upon its wings.
Its grace and beauty are a gift for the eyes to see.
This is the Dragonfly.
http://www.copyright-free-pictures.org.uk/insects/dragon-fly.jpg
Its cousin the damselfly in in the same family but of a different sub-order: Zygoptera
Damselfly:
http://www.copyright-free-pictures.org.uk/insects/common-blue-damselfly.jpg
The visual difference; damselflies sit with their wings closed together and dragonflies have their wings spread out to the sides the same as when its in flight.
Classification of the dragonfly:
Kingdom Animalia; Phylum Arthropoda (arthropods);
Class Insecta (insects);
Order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies);
Suborder Anisoptera (dragonflies), many families, including Family Libellulidae (skimmers or pond dragonflies).
Dragonflies are worldwide in distribution with more than 5,000 described species. There are about 450 species of dragonflies in North America alone. Dragonfly adults are medium to large insects. In fact, a fossilized dragonfly from 250 million years ago has a wingspan of 28 inches. Dragonflies have lived on earth for over 300 million years. They were the largest insect to ever grace the planet and they lived side by side with the dino's!
They are predators catching all sorts of flying insects on the wing.
One of their best known foods is the mosquito!
The dragonfly breathes through spiracles (tiny holes in the abdomen).
Adults are usually found near water but are good fliers and may range several miles.
They are active during the day, and can be observed hunting and mating.
Males of some species are territorial, defending their domain from other males who enter.
They can not hurt people.
They lays eggs in or near water.
The larvae of dragonflies have robust bodies that are somewhat bullet-shaped if they live amongst water plants,
or flattened if they live in bottom deposits.
Their food is fish-spawn, tadpoles and the larvae of smaller insects.
The larval stage can vary in duration from about three months to four or more years.
Dragonfly nymph: Some of them can bite!
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p197/ShantiVeritas/dragonfly_larva.jpg
When you see a dragon fly think about this wondrous species that has seen the dinos come and go.
They saw the earth go through many changes, and through it all they endure.
They truly are a gift, from the past for us today.
Its grace and beauty are a gift for the eyes to see.
This is the Dragonfly.
http://www.copyright-free-pictures.org.uk/insects/dragon-fly.jpg
Its cousin the damselfly in in the same family but of a different sub-order: Zygoptera
Damselfly:
http://www.copyright-free-pictures.org.uk/insects/common-blue-damselfly.jpg
The visual difference; damselflies sit with their wings closed together and dragonflies have their wings spread out to the sides the same as when its in flight.
Classification of the dragonfly:
Kingdom Animalia; Phylum Arthropoda (arthropods);
Class Insecta (insects);
Order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies);
Suborder Anisoptera (dragonflies), many families, including Family Libellulidae (skimmers or pond dragonflies).
Dragonflies are worldwide in distribution with more than 5,000 described species. There are about 450 species of dragonflies in North America alone. Dragonfly adults are medium to large insects. In fact, a fossilized dragonfly from 250 million years ago has a wingspan of 28 inches. Dragonflies have lived on earth for over 300 million years. They were the largest insect to ever grace the planet and they lived side by side with the dino's!
They are predators catching all sorts of flying insects on the wing.
One of their best known foods is the mosquito!
The dragonfly breathes through spiracles (tiny holes in the abdomen).
Adults are usually found near water but are good fliers and may range several miles.
They are active during the day, and can be observed hunting and mating.
Males of some species are territorial, defending their domain from other males who enter.
They can not hurt people.
They lays eggs in or near water.
The larvae of dragonflies have robust bodies that are somewhat bullet-shaped if they live amongst water plants,
or flattened if they live in bottom deposits.
Their food is fish-spawn, tadpoles and the larvae of smaller insects.
The larval stage can vary in duration from about three months to four or more years.
Dragonfly nymph: Some of them can bite!
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p197/ShantiVeritas/dragonfly_larva.jpg
When you see a dragon fly think about this wondrous species that has seen the dinos come and go.
They saw the earth go through many changes, and through it all they endure.
They truly are a gift, from the past for us today.