Comments on: Odonates http://www.bugsforthugs.com/2007/07/31/odonates/ An Entomologist's Blog Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:51:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Kelley http://www.bugsforthugs.com/2007/07/31/odonates/#comment-1213 Kelley Wed, 15 Aug 2007 22:11:33 +0000 http://www.bugsforthugs.com/2007/07/31/odonates/#comment-1213 In short and generally speaking, Dragonflies are for the most part strong fliers, damsels not so much. Dragonfly eyes usually touch each other at the top of the head, damsels are generally separated by a space. Dragons hold their wings away and perpendicular from their body when at rest, while damsels hold them together above (parallel) to their body when at rest. Dragonfly forwings are different size/shape than the hindwings, damselflies have all four wings equal. Damselfly larvae have accessory gills near their anus (they are these big feather-like plates that help in respiration), dragonflies lack these. In short and generally speaking,
Dragonflies are for the most part strong fliers, damsels not so much. Dragonfly eyes usually touch each other at the top of the head, damsels are generally separated by a space. Dragons hold their wings away and perpendicular from their body when at rest, while damsels hold them together above (parallel) to their body when at rest. Dragonfly forwings are different size/shape than the hindwings, damselflies have all four wings equal. Damselfly larvae have accessory gills near their anus (they are these big feather-like plates that help in respiration), dragonflies lack these.

]]> By: Toefy http://www.bugsforthugs.com/2007/07/31/odonates/#comment-1207 Toefy Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:31:02 +0000 http://www.bugsforthugs.com/2007/07/31/odonates/#comment-1207 What is the difference between a damsel fly and a dragon fly? What is the difference between a damsel fly and a dragon fly?

]]> By: Joshua S. Rose http://www.bugsforthugs.com/2007/07/31/odonates/#comment-1109 Joshua S. Rose Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:10:05 +0000 http://www.bugsforthugs.com/2007/07/31/odonates/#comment-1109 Hi again Kelley, Admiring how well your photos show the mites hitching rides on these damselflies. The female of the last pair is especially well laden. Joshua Stuart Rose, Ph.D. Program Director World Birding Center Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park Mission TX http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/mission/index.phtml 956-584-9156 extension 236 joshua.rose@tpwd.state.tx.us Hi again Kelley,

Admiring how well your photos show the mites hitching rides on these damselflies. The female of the last pair is especially well laden.

Joshua Stuart Rose, Ph.D.
Program Director
World Birding Center
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
Mission TX
http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/sites/mission/index.phtml
956-584-9156 extension 236
joshua.rose@tpwd.state.tx.us

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