dragonflies & damselflies understanding an insect order by three essential facts
Klaas-Douwe ‘KD’ B. Dijkstra Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis enveloping eyes Anisoptera dragonflies
different hindwing
Zygoptera 2740 sp.
Zygoptera opposed eyes damselflies fact one similar 5680 species in 2 suborders hindwing 20,000 Orthoptera; 160,000 Lepidoptera; 100,000s of Coleoptera & Hymenoptera evolution of Palaeoptera
wingspan 15-70 cm Namurotypus sippeli Meganisoptera Protodonata
small antennae node
Ephemeroptera Aeshna cyanea
unsegmented gripping cerci Calopterygidae
Amphipterygidae advancement
Lestidae
Megapodagrionidae
Coenagrionidae Bybee et al. (2008) 12S, 16S, COII (mitochondrion) 18S, 28S (nucleus) morphology
branch thickness reflects species richness families Coenagrionidae
Mecistogaster
Anonisma
Megaloprepus Libellulidae Coenagrionidae Coenagrionidae Erythromma near Lib. near Coen. Aeshnidae
Gomphidae
Odonata Platycnemididae Zygoptera Platycnemis dominated by Coenagrionoidea Calopterygidae Sapho
Synlestidae Platycnemididae Chlorolestes Chlorocnemis
Euphaeidae Euphaea
Megapodagrionidae Philosina Bybee et al. (2008) Ware et al. (2007)
Aeshnidae
Macromiidae
Corduliidae
branch thickness reflects species richness families Libellulidae Libellulidae Coenagrionidae
near Lib. near Coen. Libellulidae Aeshnidae Libellula
Gomphidae
Odonata Anisoptera Corduliidae Somatochlora dominated by Libelluloidea Libellulidae Coenagrionidae
near Lib. near Coen. Gomphidae Aeshnidae Ophiogomphus
Gomphidae
Odonata Anisoptera Aeshnidae Aeshna “Aeshnoidea” Libellulidae Sympetrum Leucorrhinia Brachythemis Acisoma
Corduliidae Cordulegastridae Aeshnidae Epitheca Cordulegaster Caliaeschna fact two all are amphibious predators hunting in land and water larva: built for growth
odonate apomorphy: labial mask of larva clasper Aeshnidae Aeshna
sprawler Libellulidae Leucorrhinia larval ecological types Coenagrionidae burrower Enallagma Gomphidae Gomphus Anisoptera Zygoptera Aeshnidae Lestidae Aeshna Lestes Anisoptera Aeshnidae Aeshna
epiproct and paraprocts form shutter of rectum, with rectal gills
Zygoptera epiproct and paraprocts Lestidae form lamellae that Lestes function as gills Anisoptera Aeshnidae Aeshna
rapid expulsion of strike of labium water from rectum in 0.005 seconds for jet propulsion (3x as fast as mantis)
Zygoptera Lestidae Lestes emergence exuviae adult: built for reproduction flight vision two pairs of wings two coumpound eyes, each of up to 29,000 ommatidia odonate wing and flight node for flexing pterostigma as counterweight
corrugation for strength independent stroking for maneuverability
Calopteryx Lestes Anax mosquito beats/second 15 33 38 1000 km/hr 8 10 >36 mm/beat 175 45 250 flight modes
percher Zygonoides flier glider Zygonyx Pantala black pigment black pigment in cuticle under trans- parent cuticle
adult coloration
red, blue, yellow and pruinosity:red pigment + green pigments in waxypruinosity scales living cells excreted= violet epidermally C. virgo C. haemorrhoidalis
C. splendens C. xanthostoma C. exul
wing coloration fact three unique reproduction indirect insemination and delayed fertilisation encounter interception
copulation tandem formation sperm transfer
tandem flight oviposition
reproductive behaviour tandem grip and sperm transfer
Zygoptera damselfly
‘Anisozygoptera’ dragondamsel
Anisoptera dragonfly sperm transfer, storage, removal
bursa copulatrix
spermathecae
oviducts vagina
female vulvar scale head sperm outlet cornua
sperm inlet
male indirect insemination unique secondary genitalia in Odonata modified male palps in spiders externally in wingless insects delayed fertilisation enables sperm competition, forces mate guarding