Page 129 - World of Animals - Deadly Predators

VISION Dragon
Dragonflies are thought to have
possibly the best vision in the or damsel?
insect world, with over 28,000
lenses in each eye providing a
near-360-degree view. How can you tell the

difference between

these deadly predators?

While dragonflies and damselflies
can look similar, there are several
key differences. First, damselflies are
generally much smaller than dragonflies,
with noticeably slimmer and longer
bodies. Dragonflies look much bulkier
and stockier when seen together. The
second thing to look for is their wings:
when at rest, dragonflies hold their wings
out, much like an aeroplane. Damselflies
WINGS at rest, however, will fold theirs up and
A dragonfly’s wings can move hold them together across their back. The
STEALTH independently of each other, hind wings of a dragonfly are also much
helping them to seamlessly
Some species of dragonfly change direction in mid-flight. broader than the front ones. Damselflies,
(known as gleaners) will flush They can also hover, move on the other hand, have wings that are all
insects from dense vegetation backwards, and fly up or down. the same size, and are much narrower at
in order to capture them in the base. Lastly, dragonflies have large
flight. Others perch and watch compound eyes that wrap around the
© Basile Morin have large eyes, but with a gap between
for prey to fly overhead. entire head of the insect. Damselflies also

them. Dragonflies and damselflies look
far more similar during the nymph stage
of their life cycles, however there is
one cunning way to tell them apart: a
dragonfly nymph has five points sticking
out at its rear end (known as appendages)
whereas a damselfly has three.
WINGS

Although most species are
relatively small compared to TEETH
dragonflies, members of the Both damselflies and dragonflies
‘forest giants’ group of damselflies belong to the order Ordonata,
can have wingspans as much as 19 meaning ‘toothed ones’.
centimetres (7.5 inches). Damselflies have razor-sharp
© Saša Rajkov
serrated teeth that they use to
devour their prey in flight.

DRAGONFLY
The eyes of a dragonfly wrap around the entire
head of the insect

COLOURS

Damselflies come in a fantastic
array of colours, with bright
reds and blues often seen. The
© John Tann
males are usually more brightly
coloured than the females.

DAMSELFLY
Damselflies have large eyes with a gap between them

127 127