Thank you for sharing it with me. When I came out later, it was dead on the ground directly below where it was perched. Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on September 02, 2015: Dragonflys are almost as lovely to me as butterflies. Sally Gulbrandsen from Norfolk on April 11, 2015: Love Dragonflies, one of my favorite things to photograph. Dragonfly nymphs in a pond wondered where their friends disappeared to. Other names for dragonflies are “water dipper” in England, “old glassy” in China, and the ancients Celts called dragonflies “big needle of wings” because of the needle-like shape of their bodies. Dragonfly nymph just after exiting its dried larval skin or exuvia, drying its wings. I always enjoy watching the dragonflies we have around here. The Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis) is a species of mantis native to Asia and the nearby islands. Have a wonderful day! Thank you for your kind comment! The robin pictured below was photographed on an August morning atop a willow oak. Nature sure is a miracle and I very much enjoyed learning a few new facts about them, thanks for sharing. The damselfly also has a slimmer body than the dragonfly. It was probably just his time. Once the dragonfly has zoomed in on its prey, it grabs it with its set of six legs. Will be happy to attach a link from your hub to mine and also share++. I learned a lot here. I am all for the eating all these mosquitoes we have to! Notice wings held together close to body. Eastern forktail damselfly, female. They do not bit so they are alright with me. The largest known now is said to live in Costa Rica and has a wingspan of 7 ½ inches. Plus, they eat those dang mosquitoes. Ebony jewelwings, like this pair (the female with a white dot on her wings) are the essence of summer. ), Dragonfly and danselfly are partnof my life since im a youngster, Were i work now way up north they are big like the size of a fist they are huge and beautiful. The twelve-spot is named for the series of spots that are seen on the wings. They seem to follow me when I go for my walks. They fly loops in and out of the reed canary grass along Willoway Brook, snatching insects and looking for mates. Up ++++ tweeting, pinning, G+ and sharing. Hubby and I had a great chance to go to Costa Rica and passed it up. Once there in the open air, he slipped free of his past state. Unfortunately it is true that the average life expectancy of a red-shouldered hawk in the wild is only about 25 months. She did, eventually, and then spent some time within the cavity, no doubt slicing and dicing the large tough insect so that Their head is large compared to the rest of their body, and they have very short antennae. Once the dragonfly’s eggs hatch, the nymph will remain in the water and molt between 9 and 17 times before reaching adulthood. They are not jointed like butterfly wings, and each of their four wings work independently of each other. Boy, am I a sucker for book sales. A female Eastern Bluebird tries to wrestle a large female Widow Skimmer dragonfly into her fencepost nest. Have a wonderful day! Dragonflies represent grace and beauty and are often used in art and poetry. The female dragonflies may lay their eggs on the surface of water or deposit them on aquatic plants. This compares to 19 cm (7.5 in) for the largest modern species of odonates, the Hawaiian endemic dragonfly, Anax strenuus. Eastern forktail damselfly, female. He remembered his friends and his promise. Hello, Bill! Thank you for stopping by and the vote up! Thank you for such a wonderful comment, R. Talloni! Pruinose mature male widow skimmer Much larger dragonfly species existed in the distant past than occur on earth today. Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on April 11, 2015: This has always been one of my favorite insects and still I learned something here. Very educational and entertaining. Sheila Brown (author) from Southern Oklahoma on April 30, 2015: Hi Peggy! This is one of the larger, flashier dragonflies, and it is easy to identify. A juvenile Widow Skimmer, probably a female since she has no white bands next to her black patches. Ours aren't very colorful though, mostly brown tones and a bit of blue. I appreciate you stopping by and all your support. Skimmer dragonfly nymphs (order Odonata, suborder Anisoptera, family Libellulidae) Feeding: All dragonfly nymphs are predators. Peg Cole from Northeast of Dallas, Texas on May 13, 2015: Lots of interesting information here about these fascinating creatures. Many people confuse dragonflies and damselflies. The have two large ball shaped compound eyes which have approximately 30,000 ommatidia, or “lenses,” allowing them to see in a complete 360 degree span. I consider them to be good luck. Do you wonder what dragonflies live near you? Top base layer – With winter riding, layering is key. widow skimmer wil hershberger wild ginger wild lupine wildflowers wildlife diversity conference willow flycatcher Wilson's snipe wingless wasp winter finches winter insects winter stonefly winter wren witch-hazel wood duck wood frog Faith Reaper from southern USA on May 12, 2015: Wonderful hub! Not only are they fascinating to look at but their aerial acrobatics are extraordinary. (it was really helpful to me! Thanks for the info....any trip to the lake is always a pleasure, in part because of the dragonflies I always see. Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on April 11, 2015: Cool video ....I adore dragonflies. Thanks for the compliments Lynn. This is one of the larger, flashier dragonflies, and it is easy to identify. The smallest modern species recorded is the libellulid dragonfly, Nannophya pygmaea from east Asia with a wingspan of only 20 mm, or about ¾ of an inch. Compared to other insects, the dragonfly has excellent vision. It’s often a lot colder in the morning than in the evening. This allows the dragonfly the agility it has in the air. Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have a beautiful day! Each wing has three Some living for only a few weeks, while others may live up to a year. I learned so many new things about these amazing creatures. You did a great job with this hub. Sheila Brown (author) from Southern Oklahoma on April 13, 2019: I'm glad I could be helpful. What would have caused that? Hope you are enjoying your Friday and the upcoming weekend. Some dragonflies “patrol,” meaning they fly back and forth, as compared to those that tend to perch. Korneliya Yonkova from Cork, Ireland on April 12, 2015: Thank you very much for this hub, Sheila! Common name- Widow skimmer Scientific name- Libellula luctuosa Family- Libellulidae Order- Odanata Size- 1 1/2 to 2 inches Lifespan- 2 to 3 years Reproduction (# of offspring & gestation period)- Food- mosquitoes, flies, bees Sheila Brown (author) from Southern Oklahoma on December 02, 2015: Thank you, Moonlake! The legs are positioned so they form a pouch-like shape that helps it hold on to its prey. Have a beautiful day! One of the largest and most easily recognized dragonflies that we see here in Minnesota is the twelve-spotted skimmer. I have regretted that ever since! I haven't written about bike commuting in a while. Sheila Brown (author) from Southern Oklahoma on September 05, 2015: I agree! […] Much larger dragonfly species existed in the distant past than occur on earth today. I love watching the dragonflies as they are so graceful when flying. Dragonflies are used to decorate many beautiful pieces of art and sculpture. I have seen lots of dragonflies so far this spring and I love to watch them. Female widow … During the last molting, the nymph will crawl out of the water and the exoskeleton will crack open to release its abdomen. Thank you for all your support, my friend and have a wonderful day! , Bald-Faced Hornet – Dolichovespula maculata, Family Apidae – Cuckoo, Carpenter, Digger, Bumble & Honey Bees, Family Sphecidae – Thread-Waisted Wasps, Mud Daubers, Superfamily Evanioidea – Aulacids, Ensigns, and Gasteruptids, Superfamily Ichneumonoidea – Braconids & Ichneumons, Symphyta – Sawflies, Horntails, & Wood Wasps, Auchenorrhyncha – Cicadas, hoppers & allies, Sternorrhyncha – Aphids, Scales, Mealybugs, Lycaenidae – Blues, Coppers, & Hairstreaks, Superfamily Pyraloidea – Pyralid and Snout Moths, Subfamily Arctiinae – Tiger and Lichen Moths, Cupressaceae – Redwood, Cypress, Arborvitae, Juniper, Hamamelidaceae – Witch Hazel, Sweet gum, Ironwood, Hippocastanaceae – Horse-Chestnuts & Buckeyes. Female Widow Skimmer, Jordan Lake Dam area, Chatham County, NC, 8/12/15 Female Widow Skimmer, Sandy Creek Park, Durham, NC, 5/31/11 Mature female Widow Skimmer, Durham, NC, … My little grandchildren love to run about chasing them.I will have to have them try this, they would be thrilled to have one light on their finger! There are so many mosquitoes. The damselfly will fold its wings close to its body when resting. I'm glad you enjoyed my hub and I thank you for stopping by! When the dragonfly nymph is ready to become an adult dragonfly, the process of nymph-to-adult transformation only take about two hours. Many have migrated south and others have died. Widow skimmer dragonfly, male. Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on April 22, 2015: Like you, I find dragonflies to be interesting creatures as well as beautiful. Apparently, the dragonfly was dead or dying when I saw him perched (vertically) on the arch. Here too! Widow Skimmer They occur most everywhere in the United States with exception to the highest points of the Rocky Mountains. At the Michigan Audubon's Cranefest they have a book sale. It's wings were gone and ants were eating it's body. He spread them and soared above the little pond. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Like most other dragonflies, the widow skimmer male is territorial and may patrol very large areas to search for females and to chase off other males. I just wish we had a bit more colorful ones around here! :). Their flight muscles have to be kept at a fairly warm temperature for them to be able to fly. When the eggs hatch, the nymph remains in the water and will hunt and eat aquatic invertebrates. We have also had a lot of rain and mosquitoes are everywhere! Much appreciated. They lived in the water; he above. Your photos are always amazing. I love being surrounded by them when I mow as they dance around me in all of the varied colors....well done.... Sheila Brown (author) from Southern Oklahoma on May 21, 2015: Hi Delores! The largest dragonfly fossil found had a wingspan of 2 ½ feet. Thank you, Jackie! Photo ©Carol Freeman. They also have a “flattened” area in front of its eyes with eye cells that see directly in front allowing it to zoom in on its prey. Dragonfly Monitoring - Free download as Powerpoint Presentation (.ppt / .pptx), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or view presentation slides online. There are some species of ducks and herons that eat dragonfly larvae as well as newts, frogs, and fish. Last summer there were so many of them around, all colors, and now this spring is beginning the same way. OUR DATA: We use the most recent data from these primary sources: AnAge, UMICH, Max Planck, PanTHERIA, Arkive, UKC, AKC. He may frighten them. In some Native American cultures, dragonflies are believed to be the “souls of the dead.” Dragonflies were once called the "devil’s darning needles," and it was said that the dragonfly would find misbehaving children during the night and come sew their mouths shut. I always like to see dragonflies in my garden. They also use their legs for climbing on plants, perching, and walking, but it is rare for a dragonfly to walk. In southern parts of the U.S., the dragonfly is known as the “snake doctor.” The folklore belief is that the dragonfly follows the snakes and will sew them back together if they become injured. In the nymph stage, they will eat mainly bloodworms and insect larvae, but are also able to catch and eat tadpoles and very small fish. They'd climb up the stem of a pond plant never to be seen again. Jackie Lynnley from the beautiful south on April 11, 2015: Love the dragonfly; I even did an article on it once and bought up some dragonfly stuff to make jewelry and all that and never did. Thank you so much for the kind comment, link and share. We have 2 "farm ponds" on our place, so there are usually a lot of dragonflies around. And of course, I’m never in a summer meadow, it seems, without seeing the striking Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa). It can take from several hours to several days for the “teneral” adult’s body to harden and its wings to strengthen enough for it to fly. This short lifespan of the adulthood in dragonflies allows them to live in the presence than in the future. The largest, found as a fossil, is an extinct Protodonata named Meganeura monyi from the Permian period, with a wingspan of 70-75 cm (27.5-29.5 in). Thank you Patricia! Shauna L Bowling from Central Florida on April 11, 2015: Sheila, dragonflies are so cool. It makes me smile now to think about it. Great hub. FlourishAnyway from USA on April 14, 2015: Any 7 1/2 inch dragonfly no matter how pretty would have me running or swatting in the air (I'd hope not to hurt anyone though). You are very welcome sallybea! I'll stay out of Costa Rica. Huge wings emerged. Mesurupetala, Late Jurassic (Tithonian), Solnhofen limestone, Germany. Thanks for stopping by! Libellulid nymphs use sit and wait hunting strategy or actively stalk their prey. Enjoyed it all, particularly the Culture section. The Energy and Symbolism of the Dragonfly I’ve always loved dragonflies.. The dragonfly has two sets of very strong wings. However, in the short and sometimes cold weather, adults will not live for longer than several weeks. Voted up and across (not funny). Thank you so much, vocalcoach! Widow Skimmers can be found in muddy substrates, lakes, streams, ponds, and creeks. Airy near Philadelphia, United States. I just read a hub by Peggy W a few days ago about these amazing insects. The typical lifespan of an adult butterfly is about two weeks, so drop by Butterflies & Blooms and say hello to our newest celebrity. I was shooting in aperture priority mode (AV) with a shutter speed of 1/800 of a second at f5.6 and the ISO at 800. … :). Many aquarists agree that too much flow will cause the anemone to stretch out and look stringy. I love your after-life metaphor story! Have a great day! Susie Lehto from Minnesota on May 12, 2015: I love it when the dragonflies are plentiful around here. I get some pretty ones here. We really need a bunch of them here in TX with all the rain lately. a Dragonfly nymph. Most dragonflies don't live very long after their nymph stage. The largest, found as a fossil, is an extinct Protodonata named Meganeura monyi from the Permian period, with a wingspan of 70-75 cm (27.5-29.5 in). Sheila Brown (author) from Southern Oklahoma on April 12, 2015: Thank you Cornelia! Sometimes they are so flighty I have a hard time getting a good photo of them, but I do have a few nice photos. Thanks for stopping by and the votes! I love to watch dragonflies and the one in the first picture seemed to want to keep my company as I went for a walk one day. SPECIES SERIES. They may shrink and it will shorten their lifespan. The mouth of the dragonfly is adapted for biting with a toothed jaw, which is where they get their “dragon” name.

We recommend that you wait at least six months before you add one of these inverts since that is enough time to get a healthy amount of coralline algae growth, which indicates that your reef tank has achieved stability. They even land on you and rest for a while before the spread they wings and fly away again. I think "earth angels" are a wonderful name for them! I never tire of the widow skimmer dragonflies, even though they are ubiquitous in my region. It is so interesting :). Watching them dart, float, and dance through the air… Just through observing dragonflies, it quickly becomes clear that their meaning and impact on us as humans goes much deeper than just being a beautiful part of nature. I will be looking for your hub and be happy to do the same! He rose and broke the surface of the water. Im just like them spiritually lifted wild and free with nature in my soul, I live on an outfitter from end april til beginning of school classes, These species are just so magnificent and gracefully beautiful. They colors here is mostly blue to dark blue the ones i seen. Dragonflies are capturing the curiosity of humans. At the Odonata Central website you can put in a county in North America and receive a list of the known dragonfly species for the area. Given its growing popularity, particularly in urban areas, I thought I'd share some of my tips on equipment for year-round commuting. Once the nymphs have reached the adult stage, as a dragonfly, they have a short life span. Like most other dragonflies, the widow skimmer male is territorial and may patrol very large areas to search for females and to chase off other males. Never had an idea how to discern damselfly from dragonfly. Thank you, Faith Reaper! Sheila Brown (author) from Southern Oklahoma on April 17, 2015: Hi Flourish! They glistened in the sun. I do love to see dragonflies and I enjoy it when the follow me on my walks. Damselfly. This is the most common damselfly in our area, and it can be There are so many different species of dragonflies in this world, some of the more colorful ones are very beautiful. The dragonfly will spend most of its life as a nymph, depending on the species, that could be anywhere from 3 months to 5 years in larger species. Now I just have to entice them to hang out in our garden area. Today, there are approximately 3000 species of dragonflies, and they can be found all over the world (except for Antarctica and Arctic Alaska). I love dragonflies too and have the first picture you saw here hanging on one of my walls. I would really love to see that "Jurassic" dragonfly! Female widow skimmer dragonfly, warming her wings in the sun. That would be very sad, poor thing. Voted up and more. kipper butterflies have the antennae clubs hooked backward like a crochet needle, whilst other butterflies have club-like tips to their antennae. I found that very sad. They eat a wide variety of insects including: Just one dragonfly can eat up to several hundred mosquitoes per day. Mantises have two grasping, spiked forelegs (“raptorial legs”) in which prey items are caught and held securely. The easiest way to tell them apart is the fact that the dragonfly will hold its wings flat, away from its body, at rest. Thank you for stopping by! Dragonflies have been in existence for over 300 million years. I appreciate your kind comment at all of your support! Dragonfly species are characterized by long bodies with two narrow pairs of intricately veined, membranous wings that, … A dragonfly from the genus Sumpetrum – but I can’t tell you which species! Dragonflies, like all insects, are ectotherms, which means they cannot regulate their body temperature themselves and rely on their surrounding environment to cool or warm themselves. The fastest dragonfly recorded flew at an amazing speed of 30 miles per hour, but their cruising speed is more around 10 mph. I appreciate you stopping by! We live a short block away from a greenbelt area in our subdivision that has water in a drainage ditch. The adults will catch and carry their prey to a perch where they will discard any wings and then ingest their prey, usually starting with the head first. Adult dragonflies have the same typical head, thorax, and abdomen divisional bodies as other typical insects. Thank you Peg! It is during this time that the dragonfly is very vulnerable to predators. I found this lone female Widow Skimmer behind my apartment building. Enjoyed your hub. Widow Skimmer, Twelve-spotted Skimmer Female – 3 patches per wing F M Male – 2 patches per wing Juv M M Tony Robison Juv male & female have slanted pale dashes on abdomen edge. Voted up. They may live as long as six months provided the weather is dry and warm. The dragonfly is a fast and agile flyer, but can be caught by birds such as falcons, hawks, swifts, flycatchers, and swallows. But how could he reach them? Although Skipper butterflies share certain characteristics with other butterflies, particularly in egg, larval and pupae stages, they differ in several important ways. Long before the dinosaurs walked the earth, Griffenflies, which were their prehistoric ancestors, flew the skies. I appreciate you stopping by and have a great day! GICLEE PRINT OF ORIGINAL COLORED PENCIL DRAWING OF; GREEN HERON, WIDOW SKIMMER DRAGONFLY, WATER ARUM, AND ARROW ARUM, WITH APPROXIMATE IMAGE SIZE OF 14-1/4"X 10-3/4" . I love dragonflies too and find them very fascinating! In order for the “patrolling” dragonflies to warm up their bodies, they will fire up their wings using a rapid whirring motion. My niece calls them earth angels and she actually named them that when her sister, another precious niece, died too soon. dragonfly ppt Much more than documents. Discover everything Scribd has to offer Audrey Hunt from Idyllwild Ca. So, the dragonfly flew on, knowing that his friends would one day join him and that then they would understand. “Perching dragonflies rely on the sun for warmth and will skillfully position their bodies to gain the maximum exposure of the sun for warmth. I do love to watch the dragonflies! Present in Park: June through August. moonlake from America on November 19, 2015: Love dragonflies. I myself like creating dragonflies in Photoshop, they are so beautiful. Very glad you've shared all this great information and I will too. the Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa). Some of them are so large and so gorgeous! She might have flown all summer but spent most of her lifespan as an underwater bug. Thank you for the information! Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on May 01, 2015: Thanks Sheila for interlinking our hubs about the beautiful dragonflies. Although its wings are transparent and appear very delicate, they are much stronger than they appear. The average lifespan of a dragonfly, from the laying of the egg to the death of the adult, can last from six months to six or seven years. Thank you for stopping by and have a great day! A nymph told his friends that after he climbed up above the surface of the pond, he would return to tell his buddies the news. Dragonflies are fascinating and beautiful insects. So we often see dragonflies in our yard and area. I appreciate you stopping by too and hope you have a wonderful day! Widow skimmer dragonfly, male. Find that dragonfly stuff and make some jewelry with it, I would love to see a hub on it! I liked dragonflies before and now I love them because its interesting to learn about them and they come in many different colours, I sometimes even take photos of them in their pretty colours!!! on May 13, 2015: Fantastic hub on dragonflies Sheila! Hi Shauna. Dragonflies are such amazing little creatures.Their sky high dances delighted us as children under a Florida evening's hot summer sun, but once in a great while, if we stood very still with our finger pointed straight up, one might light on our finger for just a moment. At 9 O'clock Pond, the most abundant dragonflies are now the Calico Pennants (Celithemis elisa), and the Carolina Saddlebags (Tramea carolina); the Common Whitetails no longer have Explore one of the largest Bird Longevity Databases in the World. They would not understand. THIS IS THIS IS PART OF THE MN. Dragonfly, any of a group of roughly 3,000 species of aerial predatory insects most commonly found near freshwater throughout most of the world. Have wonderful day! However, the dragonfly is harmless to humans: their jaw is too small and they have no “stinger.”. I wish I would see more of them around. I don't really know how I would react to such a large dragonfly! Some dragonflies even use their wings as reflectors, either positioning their wings to reflect the suns warm rays towards their bodies or deflect the sun away from them to cool their bodies.". Yesterday, I noticed one perched on an archway of my house (stucco). This fecundity appears to be much needed as only 25% of young robins survive their first year and the average lifespan is a short two years. It was all so different, so amazing! They can fly straight up or down, make hairpin turns, fly backwards, and hover like a hummingbird. Photo ©Carol Freeman. I need to look for that, might still be fun. In 1896 this species was accidentally introduced by a nurseryperson at Mt. 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