Odonata facts for kids

Aeshna juncea hovering over a pond.

The Odonata are an order of flying insects, the dragonflies and damselflies. Like most of the flying insects (flies, beetles, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera), they evolved in the early Mesozoic era.

The two suborders are easily distinguished by their eyes:

• Dragonflies: they are Anisoptera (= eyes together & wings up or out at rest)
• Damselflies: they are Zygoptera (= eyes apart & wings along body at rest)

There are other views on the classification of the Odonata, but this is as much as anyone needs to know in order to enjoy this beautiful group of insects.

All Odonata have aquatic larvae called 'nymphs', and all of them, larvae and adults, are carnivorous. The adults can land, but not walk. Their legs are specialised for catching prey.

Description

Male Blue Ringtail (Austrolestes annulosus), a damselfly

These insects characteristically have large rounded heads covered mostly by big compound eyes, legs that catch prey (other insects) in flight, two pairs of long, transparent wings that move independently, and long abdomens. They have two ocelli (eye spots) and short antennae. The mouthparts are on the underside of the head and include simple chewing mandibles in the adult.

Images for kids

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  The giant Upper Carboniferous dragonfly ancestor, Meganeura monyi, had a wingspan of about 680 mm (27 in),

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  Gomphus vulgatissimus with prey

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  With prey

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  Dragonfly (top) and damselfly (bottom) wing shape and venation

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  Ovipositing flight of two azure damselfly couples (Coenagrion puella)

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  A pair of Ceriagrion cerinorubellum mating

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  Onychogomphus forcipatus male

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  Libellula depressa resting

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  Nymph

See also

In Spanish: Odonato para niños