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 .