Table of Contents
How do damselfly nymphs breathe?
Larvae breathe through three long leaf-like gills at the end of their body. They use these gills to get oxygen from the water in which they live. When damselflies breed, the male will attach the back of his abdomen to the female’s head and in this position they fly together.
Why do damselfly larvae have gills?
The water passes over the gills. The gills remove oxygen from the water. Damselfly larva can also take up oxygen through their gills . They move about and escape from predators by moving their abdomen and gills from side to side.
Do baby dragonflies have gills?
Damselfly larvae can be separated from Dragonfly larvae by their caudal lamellae, which are fin-like structures at the end of their abdomen that act as external gills. Dragonfly larvae themselves can fall victim to predators, including other dragonfly larvae, fish and waterfowl.
How do you identify a damselfly nymph?
Damselfly nymphs are more slender than dragonfly nymphs. Their abdomen terminates in three caudal gills. Leaves resembling gills, with highly branched small veins, are held vertically and all three are about the same length. These fragile structures are sometimes broken off or lost when escaping the predators.
Are damselfly larvae aquatic?
Damselfly nymphs are common residents of marshes, ponds, lakes, streams, and other aquatic habitats. They crawl among submerged plants and rocks and along the bottoms, searching for prey. Because the larvae are aquatic and the eggs are laid in the water, adult damselflies ordinarily are not found far from water.
What is a damselfly nymph?
Damselfly larvae (nymphs) are aquatic, slender, usually drab insects, with 6 thin legs, large eyes, and small wing buds on the back of the thorax. Adult damselflies have very slender, elongated abdomens, delicate bodies, and 2 pairs of wings that are typically held together over the body.
Are dragonfly nymphs aquatic?
Dragonfly larvae (nymphs) are aquatic, usually drab, with 6 legs, large eyes, and small wing buds on the back of the thorax. Gills are located inside the rectum (unlike those of damselflies, which extend from the hind end like 3 leaflike tails). They breathe by drawing water in and out of their hind end.
What Colour are damselfly nymphs?
Damselfly nymphs range in colour from black, brown, green and yellow. In combination with body shape and mottled patterns are very well camouflaged.
How do damselfly nymphs eat?
Damselfly nymphs are predatory, feeding on aquatic insects. They capture prey by using a modified lower lip (called a labium) that shoots out rapidly and seizes the prey item. As adults they prey mainly on insects, small crustaceans, and fish, capturing their prey during flight using hind legs covered in hair.
Where are the gills on a damselfly nymph located?
Damselfly larvae (nymphs) are aquatic, slender, usually drab insects, with 6 thin legs, large eyes, and small wing buds on the back of the thorax. The 3 gills are leaflike or paddlelike and positioned in a tripod configuration at the tip of the abdomen (unlike the gills of the related dragonflies, which are hidden within the tip of the abdomen).
How is a damselfly different from a dragonfly?
Damselfly nymphs are more slender than dragonfly nymphs. Their abdomen terminates in three caudal gills. Leaves resembling gills, with highly branched small veins, are held vertically and all three are about the same length.
What kind of nymphs are white winged damselflies?
Damselfly nymphs (order Odonata, suborder Zygoptera) Contained families: Coenagrionidae (Narrow-winged damselflies) Platycnemididae (White-legged damselflies) Lestidae (Spread-winged damselflies) Calopterygidae (Broad-winged damselflies)
What kind of food does a damselfly nymph eat?
Nymphs feed on worm-like larvae, black fly larvae and other small invertebrates inhabiting flowing waters. Iridescent green or blue adults are commonly observed around shaded woodland streams.