Dragonflies

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Dragonflies
Great pitch dragonfly (Ischnura elegans) mating

Great pitch dragonfly ( Ischnura elegans ) mating

Systematics
Sub-stem : Trachea (Tracheata)
Superclass : Six-footed (Hexapoda)
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Subclass : Flying insects (Pterygota)
Order : Dragonflies (Odonata)
Subordination : Dragonflies
Scientific name
Zygoptera
Sélys , 1854
Familys
Exuvia of a dragonfly

Damselflies or dragonflies ( Zygoptera ) are a suborder of dragonflies ( Odonata ), which are divided into 19 families with about 2600 species.

features

In Europe, the Zygoptera reach a maximum wingspan of 70 mm, the smallest species only measures 19 mm. Your body is slim. Her eyes are on the side of the head, button-shaped and never touch each other on top. In the resting position, dragonflies fold their wings towards the upper side of the thorax, to the rear, directly over the abdomen. Due to the sloping construction of the thorax, this position of rest is possible without a wing joint, as is the case with the new winged wings . Fore and hind wings are almost the same shape. In contrast to the dragonflies, their flight is relatively slow and appears to be flapping and irregular.

The larvae of the dragonfly have several leaf-shaped appendages at the end of their abdomen, which support breathing, but also serve as rudder organs for locomotion in the water.

Way of life

The larvae live in the water. The hemimetabolic animals perform a “maiden flight” after hatching, often moving far away from the breeding waters. However, the adults are usually found near water.

The adults and the larvae are predatory.

protection

All dragonfly species are particularly protected in the Federal Republic of Germany by the Federal Species Protection Ordinance. A final decision has not yet been made as to whether the larval skins of the imaginal moult, the exuvia , may be collected or whether an exemption is required for this.

Systematics

Superfamilies and families

An established classification that is widely accepted :

Families and species in Europe

literature

  • H. Wildermuth, Y. Gonseth, A. Maibach: Odonata - The dragonflies of Switzerland. In: Fauna Helvetica. Volume 12, 2005, ISBN 2-88414-024-7

Web links

Commons : Dragonflies (Zygoptera)  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files