![]() Called naiads or nymphs, these larvae stay in the water for up to three years, hunting aquatic insects, mosquito larvae, or small fish with a lower jaw that reaches out and opens up sideways, snatching prey into their mouths. Around midsummer, females hover over bodies of fresh water and dip in their abdomens, laying eggs that hatch in about seven to eight days. Watery beginningsĭragonflies begin their lives in the water. Their compound eyes are so large they nearly touch, and each one has about 28,000 single eyes, or ommatidia.Īround 7,000 species of true dragonflies are alive today, and, together with the closely related damselflies, they form the group Odonta, which goes back 325 million years. Dragonflies can reach speeds of up to 35 miles an hour and fly just as gracefully backward by lifting off vertically, helicopter style. Living on every continent but Antarctica, these insects are instantly recognizable by their large bodies four long, horizontal wings and the way they hover and zip around. Whether delicately perched on a cattail or hovering over a pond, dragonflies are a sure sign of summer. Thanks, Laura! The depth-of-field is so shallow in macro photos that I need to create some composite images using a photographic process called “focus stacking.” In this case, “single slice” images are sufficient for the purpose of identifying the exuviae.Current Population Trend: Decreasing What is a dragonfly? Great photos, it’s amazing to see all the tiny details. I’ve only ever seen this left behind by cicada’s. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.Ģ Responses to “Identifying dragonfly larvae to family” You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. This entry was posted on Apat 4:00 am and is filed under Aperture, digital photography, dragonflies, Fujifilm EF-X8, Fujifilm X-T1, How To, macro photography, natural science, Nissin i40, Panasonic DMC-FZ150, Photoshop, Raynox DCR-250. Tags: cerci, exuvia, exuviae, gear talk, Hike-Bike Trail, Huntley Meadows Park, paraprocts, Skimmer Family, wildlife photography The next (bigger) challenge: Learn how to identify odonate exuviae to the genus and species level. Turns out I was correct - the exuviae are members of the Family Libellulidae (Skimmers)! Thanks to aquatic entomologist Celeste Searles Mazzacano, Ph.D., for verifying my tentative identification.
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