Anisoptera redirects here. For the genus of trees see Anisoptera (tree). Anisoptera is a genus of Plant in family Dipterocarpaceae. The name Anisoptera is derived from Greek ( grc-Latn anisos =

Dragonfly
Yellow-winged Darter
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Odonata Suborder: Epiprocta Infraorder: Anisoptera Selys, 1800
Families
Aeshnidae Austropetaliidae Cordulegastridae Corduliidae Gomphidae Libellulidae Macromiidae Neopetaliidae Petaluridae

A dragonfly is a type of insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera. The Yellow-winged Darter, Sympetrum flaveolum, is a Dragonfly found in Europe and mid and Northern Asia. Arthropods are Animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, " Joint " Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described Odonata is an order of Insects encompassing dragonflies (Anisoptera and damselflies (Zygoptera The Epiprocta Lohmann 1996 is one of the two extant Suborders of the Odonata (the order to which Dragonflies and Damselflies Baron Michel Edmond de Sélys Longchamps ( May 25, 1813 - December 11, 1900) was a Belgian liberal Politician The hawkers (or darners in North America) (family Aeshnidae) include the largest dragonflies found in North America and Europe, and Austropetaliidae is a very small family (only 5 species in two genera of dragonflies occurring only in Chile and Argentina. The Cordulegastridae are a family of Odonata ( Dragonflies) from the suborder Anisoptera. The insect family Corduliidae contains the emerald dragonflies or green-eyed skimmers. Gomphidae is an Odonata family that contains about 90 genera and 900 species The skimmers or perchers and their relatives form the Libellulidae, the largest Dragonfly family in the world The insect family Macromiidae contains the Dragonfly species known as cruisers or skimmers. Neopetalia punctata is a Dragonfly, the only member of the family Neopetaliidae. The Petaltails of the family Petaluridae are apparently the most ancient of the extant true dragonflies (infraorder Anisoptera having Fossil members from Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described Odonata is an order of Insects encompassing dragonflies (Anisoptera and damselflies (Zygoptera The Epiprocta Lohmann 1996 is one of the two extant Suborders of the Odonata (the order to which Dragonflies and Damselflies It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, and an elongated body. Insect wings are outgrowths of the Insect Exoskeleton that enable insects to fly.

Dragonflies typically eat mosquitoes, midges, and other small insects like flies, bees, and butterflies. Mosquitoes are insects in the family Culicidae. They have a pair of scaled wings a pair of Halteres, a slender body and long legs Midges comprise many kinds of very small two-winged flies The term does not encapsulate a well-defined taxonomic group but includes animals in several families of Nematoceran True flies are Insects of the Order Diptera ( Greek: di = two and pteron = wing possessing a single pair of Bees are flying Insects closely related to Wasps and Ants Bees are a Monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea A butterfly is an Insect of the order Lepidoptera. Like all Lepidoptera butterflies are notable for their unusual life cycle with a They are therefore valued as predators, since they help control populations of harmful insects. Dragonflies are usually found around lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic. A wetland is an area of Land consisting of Soil that is Saturated with Moisture, such as a Swamp, Marsh, or Bog A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example In Biology, a nymph is the immature form of some Insects which undergoes incomplete metamorphosis ( Hemimetabolism) before reaching its adult Dragonflies do not bite or sting humans.

Dragonfly characteristics

Male Dragonflies are capable of hovering followed by rapid acceleration. Some nymphs even hunt on land,^[1] an aptitude which could easily have been more common in ancient times when terrestrial predators were clumsier. Giant dragonflies can glide for 20 meters at 10 degrees and a speed of 74 cm per second which is similar to some birds. ^[2] They capture their prey by clasping them in legs studded with spikes. Prey cannot escape by diving away because dragonflies always attack from below.

Life Cycle

Dragonfly nymph

Female dragonflies lay eggs in or near water, often on floating or emergent plants. In Biology, a nymph is the immature form of some Insects which undergoes incomplete metamorphosis ( Hemimetabolism) before reaching its adult In most Birds and Reptiles an egg ( Latin ovum) is the Zygote, resulting from Fertilization of the Ovum. When laying eggs, some species will submerge themselves completely in order to lay their eggs on a good surface. Most of a dragonfly's life is spent in the larvae, (naiad, that is, nymph) form, beneath the water's surface, using internal gills to breathe, and using extendable jaws to catch other invertebrates or even vertebrates such as tadpoles and fish. In Biology, a nymph is the immature form of some Insects which undergoes incomplete metamorphosis ( Hemimetabolism) before reaching its adult The larval stage of large dragonflies may last as long as five years. In smaller species, this stage may last between two months and three years. When the larva is ready to metamorphose into an adult, it climbs up a reed or other emergent plant at night. Exposure to air causes the larvae to begin breathing. The skin splits at a weak spot behind the head and the adult dragonfly crawls out of its old larval skin, waits for the sun to rise, pumps up its wings, and flies off to feed on midges and flies. The adult stage of larger species of dragonfly can last as long as four months.

Classification

Ancient dragonflies ("Anisozygoptera")

Formerly, the Anisoptera were given suborder rank beside the "ancient dragonflies" (Anisozygoptera) which were believed to contain the two living species of the genus Epiophlebia and numerous fossil ones. More recently it turned out that the "anisozygopterans" form a paraphyletic assemblage of morphologically primitive relatives of the Anisoptera. In Phylogenetics, a group of organisms is said to be paraphyletic if the group contains its most recent common ancestor but does not contain all The term morphology in Biology refers to the outward appearance ( Shape, Structure, Colour, Pattern) of an Organism Thus, the Anisoptera (true dragonflies) are reduced to an infraorder in the new suborder Epiprocta (dragonflies in general). This article is about the taxonomic rank for the sequence of species in a taxonomic list see Taxonomic order In scientific classification used The artificial grouping Anisozygoptera is disbanded, its members being largely recognized as extinct offshoots at various stages of dragonfly evolution. eVolution is the third Album by eLDee, it was due to be released in 2008 The two living species formerly placed there — the Asian relict dragonflies — form the infraorder Epiophlebioptera alongside the Anisoptera.

Dragonflies and damselflies

Wing structure of a dragonfly

Damselflies (suborder Zygoptera) are often confused with dragonflies, but these are distinct; most damselflies hold their wings at rest together above the body or held slightly open above (such as in the family Lestidae), whereas most dragonflies at rest hold their wings horizontally or occasionally slightly down and forward. Insecta {Taxobox | name = Damselflies| regnum = Animalia | phylum = Arthropoda | classis | ordo = Odonata | subordo = Zygoptera | subordo_authority Also, the back wing of the dragonfly broadens near the base, caudal to the connecting point at the body, while the back wing of the damselfly is essentially similar to the front wing. The eyes on a damselfly are apart; in most dragonflies the eyes touch. Notable exceptions to this rule are the Petaluridae (Petaltails) and the Gomphidae (Clubtails).

Some common species of the Northern Hemisphere

Broad-bodied Chaser

Some common species of the Southern Hemisphere

A Tau Emerald in mid flight

Kirby's Dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi) in Tsumeb, Namibia. The Emperor Dragonfly, Anax imperator, is a large and powerful species of European hawker Dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae, averaging in length The Keeled Skimmer, Orthetrum coerulescens, is a Species of European Dragonfly. The Black-lined Skimmer, Orthetrum cancellatum, is a European Dragonfly. The Common Whitetail or Long-tailed Skimmer, Libellula lydia is a common Dragonfly across much of North America, with a striking and unusual The Migrant Hawker ( Aeshna mixta) is with its length of 63 mm one of the smaller species of hawker dragonflies. The Azure Hawker ( Aeshna caerulea) is one of the smaller species of hawker dragonflies, (family Aeshnidae) The Southern Hawker ( Aeshna cyanea) known as the Blue Darner in the Western Hemisphere is a 70 mm long species of hawker Dragonfly. The Norfolk Hawker ( Aeshna isosceles) while not uncommon in Europe, is an extremely rare Species of Dragonfly in Great Britain. The Common Hawker or Sedge Darner ( Aeshna juncea) is one of the larger species of hawker dragonflies, native throughout Eurasia and northern The red-veined darter ( Sympetrum fonscolombii) is a Dragonfly of the genus Sympetrum. The Common Darter ( Sympetrum striolatum) is a Dragonfly of the family Libellulidae native to Eurasia. The Vagrant Darter, Sympetrum vulgatum, is a European Dragonfly. The Yellow-winged Darter, Sympetrum flaveolum, is a Dragonfly found in Europe and mid and Northern Asia. The Broad-bodied Chaser, Libellula depressa, is a European Dragonfly. The Four-spotted Chaser, known in North America as the Four-spotted Skimmer ( Libellula quadrimaculata) is a Dragonfly of the family Libellulidae The scarce chaser ( Libellula fulva) is a species of dragonfly. The Green Darner or Common Green Darner ( Anax junius) is a Dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae, native to North America. The downy emerald ( Cordulia aenea) is a species of Dragonfly. The Blue-eyed Darner ( Aeshna multicolor, syn Rhionaeschna multicolor) is a Dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae. The Roseate Skimmer ( Orthemis ferruginea) is a common southern Dragonfly. The Widow Skimmer is one of the group of dragonflies known as King Skimmers The Banded Pennant, Celithemis fasciata, is a Dragonfly found in North America, in the Pennant genus of dragonflies Tsumeb is the capital city of the Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa on the Atlantic coast

Ruby Meadowhawk

Dragonflies in culture

In Europe, dragonflies have often been seen as sinister. UserPolbot. --> Orange-winged Dropwing ( Trithemis kirbyi) is a Species of Dragonfly in family Libellulidae Some English vernacular names, such as "devil's darning needle" and "ear cutter", link them with evil or injury. The Devil is the ^[3] A Romanian folk tale says that the dragonfly was once a horse possessed by the devil. Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania History The concept of folklore developed as part of the 19th century ideology of Romantic nationalism, leading to the reshaping of oral traditions to serve modern ideological The horse ( Equus caballus) is a hoofed ( Ungulate) Mammal, one of eight living species of the family Equidae. This is also seen in the Maltese culture as the word for dragonfly which is "Debba ta' l-infern" literally means Hell's mare. Swedish folklore holds that the devil uses dragonflies to weigh people's souls. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. ^[4] Another Swedish legend holds that trolls use the dragonflies as spindles when weaving their clothes (hence the Swedish word for dragonfly trollslända, lit. A troll is a fearsome member of a race of creatures from Norse mythology. A spindle (sometimes called a drop spindle) is a Wooden spike weighted at one end with a circular Whorl; it may have an optional hook at either end of the "troll's spindle") as well as sending them to poke out the eyes of their enemies. The Norwegian name for dragonflies is "Øyenstikker", which literally means Eye Poker. Norwegian ( norsk) is a North Germanic Language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is an official language They are often associated with snakes, as in the Welsh name gwas-y-neidr, "adder's servant". A snake is an elongate Reptile of the suborder Serpentes Like all reptiles snakes are covered in scales. Welsh ( cy Cymraeg or cy y Gymraeg, kəmˈrɑːɨɡ and {{IPA|[ə ɡəmˈrɑːɨɡ]}}, is a member of the Brythonic branch of Celtic ^[3] The Southern United States term "snake doctor" refers to a folk belief that dragonflies follow snakes around and stitch them back together if they are injured. The Southern United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South &mdashconstitutes a large distinctive ^[5] The Lithuanian word "Laumžirgis" is a composite word meaning "the Lauma's horse", while in Dutch, Aeshna mixta is called "Paardenbijter" or "horse biter". Latvian: Lauma, Lithuanian: Laumė is a woodland fae, and guardian spirit of Orphans in Eastern Baltic mythology. Latvian: Lauma, Lithuanian: Laumė is a woodland fae, and guardian spirit of Orphans in Eastern Baltic mythology. In some South American countries, dragonflies are also called matacaballo (horse killer), or caballito del diablo (devil's horse), since they were perceived as harmful, some species being quite large for an insect.

In East Asia and among Native Americans, dragonflies have a far better reputation, one that can also be said to have positively influenced modern day views about dragonflies in most countries.

For some Native American tribes they represent swiftness and activity, and for the Navajo they symbolize pure water. The Navajo or Diné people (also spelled Navaho) of the Southwestern United States Dragonflies are a common motif in Zuni pottery; stylized as a double-barred cross, they appear in Hopi rock art and on Pueblo necklaces. The Zuni (also spelled Zuñi by the Spanish and in early 20th Century ethnological texts or Ashiwi (as the Zuni refer to themselves in their own The Hopi are Native American people who primarily live on the 12635 km² (2531 The Pueblo people are a Native American people in the Southwestern United States. ^[6] It is said in some Native American beliefs that dragonflies are a symbol of renewal after a time of great hardship.

In Japan dragonflies are symbols of courage, strength, and happiness, and they often appear in art and literature, especially haiku. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. is a form of Japanese poetry. Previously called In ancient mythology, Japan was known as Akitsushima, which means "Land of the Dragonflies". The love for dragonflies is reflected by the fact that there are traditional names for almost all of the 200 species of dragonflies found in and around Japan. ^[7] Japanese children catch large dragonflies as a game, using a hair with a small pebble tied to each end, which they throw into the air. The dragonfly mistakes the pebbles for prey, gets tangled in the hair, and is dragged to the ground by the weight. ^[8]

Also, in Japan, amongst the Three Great Spears of Japan is one which is called the Tonbo-giri, which when translated is called 'The Dragon Fly Cutter'. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The Three Great Spears of Japan are three individual spears that were made and crafted by the greatest historical blacksmiths of Japan: Tonbogiri The spear is an important part of Japans imperial regalia- the spear itself was once wielded by the legendary Samurai, Honda Tadakatsu. is the term for the military nobility of Pre-industrial Japan. ( 1548 – December 3[[ 610]] also called Honda Heihachirō (本多平八郎 was a Japanese General (and later a Daimyo) of the It's name is derived from the story that the blade is so sharp, a dragon fly once landed on it and was instantly cut in half.

They also have traditional uses as medicine in Japan and China. In some parts of the world they are a food source, eaten either as adults or larvae; in Indonesia, for example, they are caught on poles made sticky with birdlime, then fried in oil as a delicacy. The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. Birdlime is a viscid adhesive substance used in trapping Birds It is spread on a branch or twig upon which a bird may land and be caught ^[3]

Vietnamese people have a traditional way to forecast rain by seeing dragonflies: "Chuồn chuồn bay thấp thì mưa, bay cao thì nắng, bay vừa thì râm" (Dragonflies fly at low level, it is rainy; dragonflies fly at high level, it is sunny; dragonflies fly at medium level, it is shadowy). Rain is Liquid precipitation. On Earth it is the condensation of atmospheric Water vapor into drops heavy enough to fall often making it to

Images of dragonflies were common in Art Nouveau, especially in jewelry designs. Art Nouveau ( nu vo anglicised /ˈɑːt nuːvəu/ ( French for 'new art' also known as Jugendstil ( German for 'youth style' is an international ^[9] They have also been used as a decorative motif on fabrics and home furnishings. ^[10]

Gallery

Australian blue dragonfly	African dragonfly perched on a leaf	Green Darner Dragonfly feeding on honey bee	Austrogomphus guerini
Ruby Meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum rubicundulum	Dragonfly in midflight over a creek	The compound eyes of a dragonfly	Cherry-faced Meadowhawk, Sympetrum internum
Dragonflies mating	Mating	Mating	Dragonfly depositing eggs
Dragonfly from Lower Silesia (Poland) - bottom	Dragonfly from Lower Silesia - top		California Spreadwing Archilestes californicus
Indian pied paddy skimmer female	Indian pied paddy skimmer male	in Brazos Bend State Park, Texas, USA	Blue Dragonfly in a temple in Kamakura, Japan
Sardinian Dragonfly	Female Red-veined darter. The Green Darner or Common Green Darner ( Anax junius) is a Dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae, native to North America. Lisboa, Portugal

See also

• Elliot Pinhey
• Obelisk posture
• List of British dragonflies

References

External links

• Tree of Life Odonata
• Dragonfly at the Open Directory Project
• Dragonflies of North America - diagnostic photos and information
• Identification key to dragonflies found in Ireland
• British Dragonfly Society
• List of Anisoptera of the World
• Photos of most British species
• Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) of the United States
• Photogallery by Dan Bárta et al. + some texts in Czech
• DragonflyIndia Group
• PHAON (Pinhey's Heritage African Odonata Network)
• Odonatologica
• Photos of South African species
• Maps, photographs and additional information pertaining to the Odonata of North America
• Short film, Emergence of a Dragonfly
• Asian Dragonfly
• Dragonflies in folklore and art

Photo Galleries

• Dragonlfies and Damselflies