How did the Dragonfly get its name?
In ancient Swedish folklore, the dragonfly is called Skams besman, which translate to Devil’s Steelyard. This name is derived from the shape of a dragonfly’s body. If you use a little imagination, its body shape begins to resemble a weighting tool.
What is the habitat of a dragonfly?
Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Dragonflies are predators, both in their aquatic larval stage, when they are known as nymphs or naiads, and as adults. Several years of their lives are spent as nymphs living in fresh water; the adults may be on the wing for just a few days or weeks.
Where are dragonflies considered devilish?
Dragonflies were considered devilish in some regions, with devil’s dragon quoted in Tennessee; devil horse and devil's horse in Wisconsin, Alabama, and Mississippi; and devil’s riding horse in North Carolina.
What is the phylum of a dragonfly?
Dragonfly Temporal range: Early Jurassic–Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Odonata Suborder: Epiprocta 7 more rows ...
Where do dragonflies sleep?
The main way dragonflies have to protect themselves when they are sleeping is to hide away from potential predators. They do this in part by physically hiding in vegetation, and in part by using camouflage.
What is the local name of dragonfly?
dragonfly, (suborder Anisoptera), also called darner, devil's arrow, or devil's darning needle, any of a group of roughly 3,000 species of aerial predatory insects most commonly found near freshwater habitats throughout most of the world.
Do dragonflies live for?
Some of the larger dragonflies take 6 or 7 years! Most of this time is spent in the larval form, beneath the water surface, catching other invertebrates. The small damselflies live for a couple of weeks as free-flying adults. The larger dragonflies can live for 4 months in their flying stage.
Where can dragonflies be found?
Dragonflies are usually found around water, from ponds and ditches to large lakes and rivers; almost any body of water can attract dragonflies.
What is the family of a dragonfly?
Dragonflies are in the suborder Anisoptera (different wings) because their larger hindwings are shaped differently than their forewings. The three dragonflies included here are all in the Skimmer family, Libellulidae.05-Aug-2008
What family does the dragonfly belong to?
Dragonflies are predatory insects, both in their aquatic nymphs stage (also known as naiads) and as adults....Dragonfly.Dragonfly Temporal range: Early Jurassic to RecentOrder:OdonataSuborder:EpiproctaInfraorder:Anisoptera Selys, 1854Families7 more rows
How do dragonflies live?
They spend the majority of their life as nymphs or larvae that are unable to fly. Dragonfly nymphs typically live underwater, feeding on invertebrates and even tadpoles and small fish. Once they have taken adult form, dragonflies usually live for just a few months. This gives them enough time to breed and lay eggs.29-May-2019
Where do dragonflies live in the winter?
Not many insects are active in the winter, but the nymphs of dragonflies, mayflies and stoneflies live in waters of ponds and streams, often beneath ice. They feed actively and grow all winter to emerge as adults in early spring. Overwintering as Eggs. Lesser numbers of insects lay eggs which survive the winter.
Why is dragonfly called dragonfly?
He stated that the Romanian word for Devil was “drac,” but that drac was also the Romanian word for dragon. He thought that eventually the Romanian name for the Devil's Fly was erroneously translated to the English Dragon Fly and this eventually evolved into the “dragonfly!”
How do dragonflies fly?
Dragonflies fly by using muscles below their exoskeleton to move their four wings independently. This allows them to hover, fly backwards, and turn suddenly. It's the amazing agility in the air that makes them such efficient hunters.
How does a dragonfly see?
Dragonflies have binocular vision, so they can judge distances. They have colour vision, but see from orange to ultraviolet (UV) light. Insects don't see red light, while we humans can't see UV light. An object that reflects UV can appear quite different to an insect than it would to our eyes.
How do dragonflies drink?
Dragonflies drink water using their mouths; however, many people see them dipping the tips of their tails into the water and think this might be a way that they can drink; however, this is actually the female dragonflies laying their eggs.
What is the name of the dragonfly in The Rescuers?
In the movie, Evinrude is portrayed as the one who helps the protagonists to hide from the villain. 4. Long ass butterfly: This is a very common name for a dragonfly in the United States.
What is the Chinese word for dragonfly?
Qingting: Qingting is the Chinese for a dragonfly. Dragonflies are considered to be a symbol of prosperity, harmony, and as a good luck charm. 8. Snapdragon: The leading electronic chip manufacturer in the world. Similar to their products, dragonflies are fast.
How many cute dragonflies are there?
131 Cute and Funny Pet Dragonfly Names. Dragonflies have been living on our planet for more than 300 million years, making them one of the oldest insect species in the world. These magnificent insects have always been a matter of fascination to biologists across the world.
How fast do dragonflies flap their wings?
2. Flappy: A dragonfly flaps its wings at a rate of 1800 times per minute. That’s about 30 times in a second.
What are some myths about dragonflies?
1. Pacifier: Dragonflies have always been an integral part of many myths. One among such myths is that dragonflies cut the ears of children who lie. This is quite a rude statement to be made about a dragonfly, but it does help a parent make children behave properly. 2.
Do dragonflies have compound eyes?
Dragonflies with their pair of compound eyes with thousands on lens and 3 eyes with simple lenses have excellent vision. They are even found to see UV and polarized light. 6. Chopper: If you didn’t know, helicopters were designed after the flawless design and maneuverability of a dragonfly.
Do dragonflies have pets?
Owing to which, there are people out there who would want to keep dragonflies as pets.
Where did the dragonfly come from?
Dragonfly symbol on a Hopi bowl from Sikyátki, Arizona, c. 1400–1625. Accurately drawn dragonflies by Moses Harris, 1780: At top left, the brown hawker, Aeshna grandis (described by Linnaeus, 1758 ); the nymph at lower left is shown with the "mask" extended. Woodcut on paper, after Kitagawa Utamaro, 1788.
What order is a dragonfly?
"Anisoptera" redirects here. For other uses, see Anisoptera (disambiguation). A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata, infraorder Anisoptera (from Greek ἄνισος anisos, "unequal" and πτερόν pteron, "wing", because the hindwing is broader than the forewing ).
How to warm up a dragonfly?
Early in the morning, they may choose to perch in a vertical position with the wings outstretched, while in the middle of the day, a horizontal stance may be chosen. Another method of warming up used by some larger dragonflies is wing-whirring, a rapid vibration of the wings that causes heat to be generated in the flight muscles. The green darner ( Anax junius) is known for its long-distance migrations, and often resorts to wing-whirring before dawn to enable it to make an early start.
What happens if a dragonfly eats a frog?
If the nymph is eaten by a frog, the amphibian becomes infected by the adult or fluke stage of the trematode.
How do dragonflies fly?
Dragonflies are powerful and agile fliers, capable of migrating across the sea, moving in any direction, and changing direction suddenly. In flight, the adult dragonfly can propel itself in six directions: upward, downward, forward, backward, to left and to right. They have four different styles of flight: A number of flying modes are used that include counter-stroking, with forewings beating 180° out of phase with the hindwings, is used for hovering and slow flight. This style is efficient and generates a large amount of lift; phased-stroking, with the hindwings beating 90° ahead of the forewings, is used for fast flight. This style creates more thrust, but less lift than counter-stroking; synchronised-stroking, with forewings and hindwings beating together, is used when changing direction rapidly, as it maximises thrust; and gliding, with the wings held out, is used in three situations: free gliding, for a few seconds in between bursts of powered flight; gliding in the updraft at the crest of a hill, effectively hovering by falling at the same speed as the updraft; and in certain dragonflies such as darters, when "in cop" with a male, the female sometimes simply glides while the male pulls the pair along by beating his wings.
What color are dragonflies eyes?
Their overall colouration is often a combination of yellow, red, brown, and black pigments, with structural colours.
How many segments does a dragonfly have?
An adult dragonfly has three distinct segments, the head, thorax, and abdomen, as in all insects. It has a chitinous exoskeleton of hard plates held together with flexible membranes. The head is large with very short antennae. It is dominated by the two compound eyes, which cover most of its surface.
How did the dragonfly get its name?
This name is deri ved from the shape of a dragonfly’s body. If you use a little imagination, its body shape begins to resemble a weighting tool. The people believed that the Devil used the dragonfly to weigh people’s souls. The dragonfly would circle a person to get the measure of their soul.
What is the word for a dragonfly?
In the Romanian language, the word for dragonfly translates into Devil’s Horse or Devil’s fly. The Romanian word for devil is drac, which can also indicate dragon. In English, it translated to dragonfly.
Why did the insect doll fly away?
As the children suffered from hunger, the doll flew away to find the corn maidens. With the corn maidens came the return of the fertile land and the tribe. The insect doll asked for a companion. Their offspring were called dragonflies from then on to today.
What do dragonflies eat?
As a predator, they eat many insects that might plague your home and yard, including mosquitoes, houseflies, ants and bees. However, the origin of their name is a bit of mystery. The origin is not definitive, but there are many ...
Who was the horse that ridden the dragonfly?
In old Romanian folklore, the dragonfly was actually a horse ridden by Saint George. St. George rid the mythical town of Silence of the dragon that lived in the town’s pond and poisoned the town. After wounding the dragon, he leashed the dragon and gave it to the town’s princess. Saint George’s horse became a giant flying insect when cursed by ...
Is a dragonfly a holy animal?
If your soul was found wanting, you could expect to be seriously injured in the near future. Today, dragonflies are considered holy animals in the Scandinavian countries. While we might never know the true origins of how the dragonfly received its name.
How long do dragonflies live?
This is because dragonflies have a short life expectancy. The life cycle of a dragonfly from an egg until it dies is estimated to be about 6 months. This means you only have a short period of time to bond with your dragonfly. However, if you are willing to take that risk then you obviously need a name for your dragonfly. The name should be catchy and easy to remember. In the article below I have highlighted some of the good dragonfly names which you can choose from. The article has names for both male and female dragonflies.
How many types of dragonflies are there?
There are over 5,000 types of dragonflies that are known to human beings and more discoveries within the practice of taxonomy continue to made. Of the 5,000 known species some of them include clubtail dragonflies which belong to the family of Gomphidae. These dragonflies can be found around water bodies in North America. There are almost 100 species of club tail dragonflies. Other species of dragon flies include the river cruisers. These dragonflies get their name from their distinct trait of cruising long distances along river banks and roads too. Other common types of dragonflies are skimmers, these can be found in North America and are an umbrella category that has almost 105 species that belong to the Libellulidae family of dragonflies. Other types of dragonflies include spiketails that belong to the Cordulegastridae family. Then there is one with nine species in the single genus, the spiketail. This type of dragonfly is the least popular type in the family of dragonflies. Emerald dragonflies are another species that belong to the Corduliidae family and they get their name from their beautiful emerald green eyes plus they are commonly found in most regions of the United States. Another common type of dragonfly is the Petaltail dragonfly, which gets its name from the shape of its long tails.
Do dragonflies bite?
Surprisingly, dragonflies do not sting and generally don’t bite people. These wonderful creature have been around for over 300 million years. It is believed that the prehistoric dragonflies were much bigger and could have had a wingspan of 2 ½ feet. When they are first hatched, the larva or nymphs live in the water for a very long time depending on the species but they have a short lifespan once they leave the water. In some countries such as Indonesia, people eat them as a snack. And in other parts of the world having one land on your head is considered a sign of good luck. Fortunately, dragonflies are not related to common flies. A group of dragonflies are called swarms and watching dragonflies is similar to bird watching. This activity is called oding which originates from the order classification odonata. Another interesting fact about dragonflies are its predators which include fish, ducks, birds, and water beetles. Dragonflies like to warm up in the sun in the morning before taking off or flying for most of the day.
What is a river dragonfly?
River cruisers, as the name suggests, derive their name from their distinct trait of cruising long distances, often along river banks and roads. While they are commonly called cruisers, the name for the family these cruisers belong to is Macromiidae.
What is the name of the dragonfly with a brown abdomen?
With only eight or nine species in the single genus, spiketails are one of the least populous in the family of dragonflies, at least in the United States. These dragonflies have long bodies and are typically large in size. They have a brown or black abdomen that has a distinct bright yellow pattern. These are active dragonflies that are usually ...
What is the name of the family of broadwing damselflies?
Broadwing damselflies belong to the family of Calopterygidae. The two species belonging to the North American genera are also known for their large sizes and bright colors. River jewelwing is one of the most prominent species in the broadwing damselflies family, because of its distinctly wide wings.
How many species of clubtail dragonflies are there?
There are approximately 100 species of clubtail dragonflies. While all the members of this species have unique characteristics, the one thing most of them have in common is the club-shaped tail. Sometimes they're called bladetail dragonflies.
How did the petaltail dragonfly get its name?
Petaltail Dragonfly. Petaltail dragonflies, again, get their name from the shape of their tails which are long and straight like petals. These dragonflies belong to the Petaluridae family, which is said to be the oldest among the dragonfly families (approximately 150 million years). There are 11 documented species of this family recorded in ...
Where do emerald dragonflies come from?
Emerald dragonflies or simply emeralds belong to the Corduliidae family. They derive their common name from their striking emerald green eyes and are commonly found in most regions of the United States.
Why are dragonflies so interesting?
Even the stories behind how their names are derived are interesting because they reveal something about their physical characteristics or habits.
What is the dragonfly in Romanian folklore?
For example, in Romanian folklore the dragonfly was Saint George’s horse. According to the myth, after St. George wounded the dragon, his horse was cursed by the devil and became a giant flying insect. That’s why in the Romanian language the word dragonfly translates into Devil’s Horse.
What order are dragonflies?
Dragonflies are insects that belong to the order of Odonata. Their main difference from other similar insects (such as Damselfies) is the fact that dragonflies keep their wings open, flat and away from their body while in rest.
Why are dragonflies used in folklore?
In Swedish folklore, dragonflies are used by the Devil in order to weigh people’s souls. Because of the shape of their body which, with a bit of imagination, ...
Why are dragonflies negative?
The reason why dragonflies inspire for the most part, negative myths, is believed to be due to their body shape which looks like a needle at the end (in fact , one of their nicknames is ‘Devil’s Darning Needle’), their erratic flight patterns and their shimmering wings.
Where do dragonflies fly?
So it’s no surprise that the dragonfly is known as a helicopter in areas like Indiana, Pennsylvania, and the Upper Midwest.
What are the bumps on a dragonfly called?
According to the 1893 book Some Peculiarities of Speech in Mississippi, the “two bumps sometimes seen on the [dragonfly], just behind his wings, are called his saddlebags, and in them he is reputed to carry medicine for the snakes.”.
What is the name of the insect that sews your eyes shut?
Eye stitcher comes from the frightening idea that dragonflies “will sew your eyes shut if you don’t behave.”. 8. SCHNEIDER. Pronounced sneeder or snyder, this Wisconsin moniker comes from the German word for tailor and also refers to the daddy longlegs and other insects. 9., 10., AND 11.
How far do dragonflies migrate?
According to Hawaiian Nature, a particular species of dragonfly known as the globe-skimmer takes “advantage of any little puddle of water in the lowlands to breed,” which is why “this species is so abundant, even in the driest localities.” The species migrates 11,000 miles —the farthest of any insect.
What is a four eye dragonfly?
Not just a schoolyard taunt, four-eyes might be a dragonfly designation in Illinois, referring to its compound eye, according to DARE. Sarah Zielinski writes at Smithsonian that “nearly all of the dragonfly’s head is eye, so they have incredible vision that encompasses almost every angle except right behind them.”
Is a dragonfly dangerous?
Dragonflies are harmless but somehow gained a nasty reputation. A belief was that the “devil’s darning-needle [would] sew together the fingers or toes of a person who goes to sleep within its reach,” according to the 1899 book Animal and Plant Lore.
Do dragonflies cure snakes?
While dragonflies might be the stuff of bratty kids’ nightmares, they were apparently a boon to snakes. Snake doctor, chiefly used in the Midland and South, comes from the idea that dragonflies could “cure snakes” or snakebites. According to the 1893 book Some Peculiarities of Speech in Mississippi, the “two bumps sometimes seen on the [dragonfly], just behind his wings, are called his saddlebags, and in them he is reputed to carry medicine for the snakes.” Meanwhile, an Alabama resident told DARE dragonflies “picked off the gnats that would gather in a small cloud around a sunning snake.”
Brainstorm Your Ideas
Start by brainstorm what words could fit into a nickname. In my dragonfly nicknames, I use combinations that are appealing to the eyes, interesting to others, convey my personality, and are easy to spell and pronounce. For example, here are some of the best dragonfly nicknames that I have brainstormed:
Shortlist Your Ideas & Suggestions
Once you’re done brainstorming, go through your ideas and select a handful of them. You can keep those that are catchy, memorable, and reflect your personality. Remove the rest of them and get to the next step.
Keep It Short and Simple
We have seen in a lot of places that short and simple nicknames are liked by people a lot. In fact, people love it when you call them with a simple nickname.
Get Some Feedback & Suggestions
Now that you’ve selected a few dragonfly nickname ideas, it’s time to gather some feedback. Ask your friends and family for their opinions. Also ask people in your network for their thoughts. Don’t forget to include your parents, siblings, teachers, and friends.
Overview
A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the order Odonata, infraorder Anisoptera (from Greek ἄνισος anisos, "unequal" and πτερόν pteron, "wing", because the hindwing is broader than the forewing). Adult dragonflies are characterized by a pair of large, multifaceted compound eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches, and an elongated body. Dragonflies can b…
Evolution
Dragonflies and their relatives are similar in structure to an ancient group, meganisoptera, from the 325 Mya Upper Carboniferous of Europe, a group that included the largest insect that ever lived, Meganeuropsis permiana from the Early Permian, with a wingspan around 750 mm (30 in); . Known informally as "griffinflies", their fossil record ends with the Permian–Triassic extinction event (about …
Distribution and diversity
About 3,012 species of dragonflies were known in 2010; these are classified into 348 genera in 11 families. The distribution of diversity within the biogeographical regions are summarized below (the world numbers are not ordinary totals, as overlaps in species occur).
Dragonflies live on every continent except Antarctica. In contrast to the damse…
General description
Dragonflies (suborder Anisoptera) are heavy-bodied, strong-flying insects that hold their wings horizontally both in flight and at rest. By contrast, damselflies (suborder Zygoptera) have slender bodies and fly more weakly; most species fold their wings over the abdomen when stationary, and the eyes are well separated on the sides of the head.
Biology
Dragonflies and damselflies are predatory both in the aquatic nymphal and adult stages. Nymphs feed on a range of freshwater invertebrates and larger ones can prey on tadpoles and small fish. Adults capture insect prey in the air, making use of their acute vision and highly controlled flight. The mating system of dragonflies is complex, and they are among the few insect groups that have a …
Predators
Although dragonflies are swift and agile fliers, some predators are fast enough to catch them. These include falcons such as the American kestrel, the merlin, and the hobby; nighthawks, swifts, flycatchers and swallows also take some adults; some species of wasps, too, prey on dragonflies, using them to provision their nests, laying an egg on each captured insect. In the water, various species of d…
Parasites
Dragonflies are affected by three major groups of parasites: water mites, gregarine protozoa, and trematode flatworms (flukes). Water mites, Hydracarina, can kill smaller dragonfly nymphs, and may also be seen on adults. Gregarines infect the gut and may cause blockage and secondary infection. Trematodes are parasites of vertebrates such as frogs, with complex life cycles often involving a period as a stage called a cercaria in a secondary host, a snail. Dragonfly nymphs ma…
Dragonflies and humans
Most odonatologists live in temperate areas and the dragonflies of North America and Europe have been the subject of much research. However, the majority of species live in tropical areas and have been little studied. With the destruction of rainforest habitats, many of these species are in danger of becoming extinct before they have even been named. The greatest cause of d…