Order Odonata: Dragonflies and Damselflies of North America
The order Odonata is divided into two main suborders: Zygoptera (damselflies) and Anisoptera (dragonflies). The common name "dragonfly" also is used for the whole order. More than one-half of all species are tropical but odonates of both major suborders occur in every region except Antarctica. To some extent, the presence and abundance of odonates may be taken as an indicator of ecosystem quality. Local populations can be strongly affected by any change in water flow, turbidity, etc., or in aquatic or waterside vegetation. The greatest numbers of species are found at sites which offer a wide variety of microhabitats, prey, and clean water. -Table of Contents-
 
Ruby Meadowhawk Male
Sympetrum rubicundulum


Ruby Meadowhawk Female
Sympetrum rubicundulum


Black Saddlebags Male
Tramea lacerata


White Faced Meadowhawk
Sympetrum obtrusum


Eastern Pondhawk Female
Erythemis simplicicollis


White Faced Meadowhawk
Sympetrum obtrusum


Blue Dasher Female
Pachydiplex longipennis


Eastern Pondhawk Male
Erythemis simplicicollis


Green Darner Female
Anax junius


Green Darner Male
Anax junius


Blue Dasher Male
Pachydiplex longipennis


Widow Skimmer
Libellula luctuosa

Odonates are completely harmless - they do not sting or bite. Indeed, they are beneficial in the same respect spiders and other predators are beneficial - they keep the burgeoning insect population in check. Many of these species prey on each other; I often see dragonflies with damsels in their clutches. Dragonflies are among the most ancient of living creatures. Fossil records, clearly recognisable as the ancestors of our present day odonates, go back to Carboniferous times which means that the insects were flying more than 300 million years ago, predating dinosaurs by over 100 million years and birds by some 150 million.

Cherry-faced Meadowhawk
Sympetrum internum

Eastern Amberwing female
Perithemis tenera


Common Whitetail
Libellula lydia


Twelve-spotted Skimmer Male
Libelulla pulchella

Calico Pennant Dragonfly
Celithemis elisa

Our green darners chosen for
Humane Society Calendar
Zygoptera (Damselflies)    

Stream Bluet
Enallagma exsulans

American Rubyspot Damselfly

Emerald Spreadwing
Lestes dryas

Northern Bluet Damselfly

Familiar Bluet

Eastern Forktail Damselfly


Ebony Jewelwing
Calopteryx maculata


Blue-fronted Dancer

Powdered Dancer
Argia moesta

Slender Spreadwing

Fragile Forktail
Ischnura posita
             
 
      Web   www.cirrusimage.com

[Cirrus Home]    [Butterflies]    [Bugs]    [Beetles]    [Mantids]    [Spiders]    [Bees & Wasps]    [Dragon & Damselflies]    [Moths]   [Wildflowers]
[Fungi & Mushrooms]    [Flies]   [Butterflies of the World]  [Trees of North America]  [Grasshoppers]   [Ticks & Mites] 
© Red Planet Inc.