ODONATA

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ODONATA Dragonflies and Damselflies
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Hexapod Orders
Odonata
Odon - tooth
Number of Species
gt5000
Common names
damselflies, dragonflies, skippers , darners
Typical habitats
Aquatic nymph, aerial adult
Distinguishing characteristics

• direct flight muscles
• -wings cant be folded

Other features

• nymphs with labial mask for prey capture
• Primitive wing venation

3
Odonata
Direct flight muscles


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Odonata -Evolutionary History
Meganeura - Permian
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Odonata - Adult modifications
Modifications for a predatory life
Well-developed mandibles
Large eyes
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Odonata - Adult modifications
Modifications for a predatory life
-orientation of thoracic segments
-changed orientation of legs
-spines on legs
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Odonata - larval modifications
Modifications for an aquatic predatory life
Mouthparts
palp
submentum
mentum
prementum
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Odonata - Classification
-larvae with caudal lamellae -wings held
vertically at rest -wings same size
Zygoptera
Odonata
Anisozygoptera
-larvae with no caudal lamellae -wings held
horizontally at rest -wings different size
Anisoptera
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Odonata - Suborders - Zygoptera
Damselflies
-larvae with caudal lamellae -wings held
vertically at rest -wings same size
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Odonata - Suborders - Zygoptera
Dragonflies
-larvae with no caudal lamellae -wings held
horizontally at rest -wings different size
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Odonata - Suborders - Anisozygoptera
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Odonata - Suborders
Zygoptera Zygo - equal, ptera- wing
Anisoptera Aniso - unequal, ptera- wing
Number of Species
2000
4000
Common names
damselflies
dragonflies
Typical habitats
Aquatic nymph, aerial adult

• direct flight muscles
• -wings cant be folded
• wings are same size
• wings held vertically
• -slender
• -nymph - 3 caudal gills

• direct flight muscles
• -wings cant be folded
• - hind wing larger
• - wings held horizontally
• -robust
• -nymph - no caudal gills

Distinguishing characteristics

• nymphs with labial mask for prey capture
• Primitive wing venation

Other features
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Odonata - General Features
Mating
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Odonata - General Features
Mating
Courtship
Copulation
Oviposition
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Odonata - General Features
Territory
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Odonata - General Features
Life Cycle
Flies inland to feed and mature
Returns to water to set up territory and mate
Nymph leaves water and molts
Aquatic nymph
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So far in classfication
Ephemeroptera
Zygoptera
Paleoptera
Odonata
Anisozygoptera
Anisoptera
NEOPTERA