Odonata
Odonata (damselflies, devil's darning needles, dragonflies, horse-stingers; class Insecta, subclass Pterygota) Order of primitive insects, the earliest fossils of which are found in the Upper Carboniferous coal measures of Commentry (France). These slender-bodied insects have two pairs of large, glassy wings, and large, prominent eyes. They usually hunt on the wing, taking swarming flies and other flying insects. Odonates are unique in possessing two sets of genitalia (see ACCESSORY GENITALIA). The nymphs are aquatic, and catch prey with a prehensile organ (called the mask) derived from the labia (see LABIUM). Despite their fearsome common names, these beautiful insects are not dangerous to large animals. About 5000 species are known, with a cosmopolitan but mainly tropical distribution.
Odonata
Odonata An order of exopterygote insects containing the dragonflies and damselflies, most of which occur in tropical regions. Adult dragonflies have a pair of prominent compound eyes, a compact thorax bearing two pairs of delicate membranous wings, and a long slender abdomen. They are strong fliers and prey on other insects, either in flight or at rest. The eggs are laid near or in water, and the newly hatched nymphs (naiads) are aquatic and resemble the adults, with rudimentary wings. They breathe through gills and feed on small aquatic animals. The nymph leaves the water for its final moult into the terrestrial adult.
More From encyclopedia.com
Lepidoptera , Lepidoptera An order of insects comprising the butterflies and moths, found mainly in tropical regions. Adults possess two pairs of membranous wings,… Damselflies , damselflies See AMPHIPTERYGIDAE; CALOPTERYGIDAE; CHLOROCYPHIDAE; COENAGRIONIDAE; DICTERIASTIDAE; EUPHAEIDAE; HEMIPHLEBIIDAE; LESTIDAE; MEGAPODAGRIONI… Moth , moth, any of the large and varied group of insects which, along with the butterflies, make up the order Lepidoptera. The moths comprise the great maj… Hexapoda , Hexapoda (Insecta) A class of the phylum Uniramia comprising about a million known species of arthropods (many more are thought to exist). They are d… Beetles , Beetles make up the large, extremely diverse order Coleoptera of the class Insecta, and comprise the largest single group of animals on Earth . There… Diptera , Diptera(two-winged flies, true flies; class Insecta, subclass Pterygota) Order of insects in which the adults have a single pair of membranous wings,…
About this article
Odonata
All Sources -
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
Odonata