 |
Incomplete
metamorphosis (naiads in water, adults are terrestrial) |
|
2 pr
membranous wings (click to
expand/collapse)
 |
wings at rest:
dragonflies flat, damselflies folded together in upright position |
|
can beat wings
independently – can do loop-the-loop, hover in place, fly backwards |
|
are fast
flyers (some @ 30 kph, Olympic record @ 58 kph) |
|
|
mouth chewing (predaceous)
|
|
legs modified
with spines to grab (and hold) prey out of the air |
|
ancient lineage
- 250 million years |
|
large insects – one
fossil with a wing span of 75 cm; big ones today have 19 cm wingspan |
|
important food
supply for fish & water birds |
