Dragonflies are common representatives of the fauna of temperate latitudes. This is a large order of amphibious insects, the adults of which live on land, and the larvae live in the aquatic environment. Thanks to their open lifestyle, they are well known to people. The common dragonfly has a slender body and a red or yellow-brown color. Her offspring grow in stagnant water with a lot of vegetation. Despite its modest size, the insect is of great benefit, destroying mosquitoes, flies and various agricultural pests.

Groups of dragonflies

Scientists have found and described more than 6 thousand species of dragonflies. They are divided into two large groups:

1. Various dragonflies - the suborder includes about 3 thousand species, including the common dragonfly. A characteristic feature is that the wings are placed perpendicular to the axis of the body during rest. The front pair of wings is larger than the back. This group includes the fastest predators, with a record speed of up to 100 km/h. Nymphs live in stagnant water.
2. Homoptera dragonflies - a group that unites insects with the same size of front and rear wings. Their flight is smooth and measured. At rest, the wings are folded like a roof over the abdomen. The larvae live in standing and flowing water bodies.

The common dragonfly belongs to the family of true dragonflies. Its representatives are small in size (3-5 cm). They are found everywhere except Antarctica.

Description of Sympetrum vulgatum

Insect classification:

• Order – dragonflies (Odonata).
• Family – true dragonflies (Libellulidae).
• Genus – compressed bellies (Sympetrum).
• Species: common dragonfly (Sympetrum vulgatum).

Body structure and coloring

Dragonflies from the genus Sympetrum or compressed bellies are typical representatives of the fauna of Russia. Their body length is 38-40 mm, of which the abdomen accounts for up to 28 mm. The head is large, well defined, mobile. In the imago it is wider than the thorax and is movably connected to the prothorax. The eyes are large, complex, and consist of 20-30 thousand individual facets. The upper part of the organ is responsible for recognizing the outline of objects, and the lower part distinguishes colors. The antennae are presented in the form of short thin bristles. There are three simple ocelli located on the crown. A black stripe runs across the brown head, between the crown and forehead. The mouthparts are of a gnawing type, with strong mandibles equipped with sharp teeth.

The insect's chest contains limbs and two pairs of wings. The posterior part of the prothorax has a vertical projection. A fringe of long hairs grows on it. Black stripes run along the chest seams. The back of the dragonfly is pushed back obliquely, so the wings are behind the limbs. Males of the common compressed belly have a red chest with three black stripes, females are yellow-brown, three stripes are also present.

Wings

Dragonflies are equipped with two pairs of wings. In heteroptera, the front pair exceeds the parameters of the rear pair. The wing plate is formed by two chitinous layers and reinforced by veins. Their length is approximately equal to the size of the body. The hind wings are widened at the base. The wingspan of Sympetrum vulgatum is 60 mm, the length of the hind wing is 24-29 mm, the length of the front wing is 33-37 mm. The venation is very dense, large veins contain hemolymph, small veins have no gaps. One of the significant areas is the pterostigma, a thickening in the front of the wings. Outwardly, it looks like a dark spot; during flight, it weighs down the top of the wing, allowing it to increase the amplitude of the flapping.

Information. The common dragonfly lacks the buffy-yellow areas at the base of its wings.

Limbs

The legs of the common dragonfly are black, with a yellow stripe running along the outside. Three pairs of limbs are designed to hold the insect's body and catch prey. They are not used for walking or running. The legs consist of 5 main parts:

• basin;
• trochanter;
• hip;
• shin;
• paw.

On the inside of the leg and thigh there are several rows of spiny bristles. The coxa is the thickest and shortest part of the limb. There are two sharp forked claws on the foot. Long limbs and spines allow them to form a “catching basket” to catch prey in the air.

Abdomen

The abdomen of the common dragonfly is flattened and wide. It consists of 10 full and one rudimentary segment. Each part is formed by an upper and lower chitinous shield. Thanks to the movable joint, insects can freely bend their abdomen. The structure of the organ of males and females is different. Males have special appendages on the last segment to hold the partner during mating. Their secondary copulatory organ is located in the lower part of the second segment. The female's genital opening is between the eighth and ninth segments. Females have an ovipositor. Males have a red abdomen with a black side stripe, while females have a brown abdomen with a black stripe.

Larvae

Dragonfly larvae are called nymphs or naiads. In appearance and structure they are strikingly different from the imago. Nymphs of the common dragonfly have a massive body 17-19 mm long. Breathing is carried out through internal organs - rectal gills. The larvae take water into the rectum, where gas exchange occurs. The body color is dark gray, greenish or red-brown. The nymphs are covered with a motley pattern.

Interesting fact. To make a sharp dash for prey or to hide from an enemy, the larvae eject a stream of water from the anus.

The larvae's oral apparatus has a unique structure. It consists of an upper lip, paired mandibles and a modified lower lip. This organ transformed into a mask. The movable joint allows it to be thrown forward and grab onto prey with sharp teeth. When at rest, the mask is folded under the head. The rudiments of wings are located on the dorsal part. On each part of the chest there is a pair of limbs. Larvae of the family Libellulidae burrow into the mud. Their lifestyle affected the structure of their legs. The limbs are shortened, wide, with many hairs and spines. Nymphs feed on small invertebrates, insect larvae, fish eggs, cannibalism is not excluded.

Reproduction

Sexual dimorphism of insects is manifested in color. It affects the reproductive behavior of dragonflies. Males are characterized by attachment to place and territorial competition. They do not allow rivals into their areas. Only females ready for fertilization are allowed. Dragonflies have a complex mating process: the male holds the female by the head with his anal appendage, the partner bends her abdomen forward, leaning it against the spermatophore on the 2nd segment of the partner’s abdomen. The result is a closed figure that is held for several minutes.

During the laying process, the male common dragonfly accompanies his partner. He flies near her and protects her from re-mating. Territorial behavior leads to the fact that some males who do not receive good areas will not be able to participate in procreation.

Offspring

Dragonflies are insects with incomplete metamorphosis. Their life cycle is divided into three phases:

• egg;
• larva (nymph);
• imago.

The female common dragonfly lays eggs in coastal mud, moist soil or water. After winter, larvae emerge from the clutch, remarkable in appearance and biological characteristics. They play a significant role among the inhabitants of the reservoir. Nymphs live in stagnant or weakly flowing water. They prefer to lead a secretive lifestyle, hiding among aquatic plants or burrowing in the mud. The larva of the common dragonfly has a short and wide body. The shape of the mask is helmet-shaped.

Small predators feed only on live prey. They spend a lot of time in ambush, waiting for insect larvae or daphnia to approach. Food is absorbed in huge quantities; young nymphs have a particularly large appetite. Over the course of a day, they eat invertebrates whose mass exceeds their own. The offspring require 7 to 11 moults before reaching adulthood. Their number depends on environmental conditions and food supply. The final molt occurs on land. To do this, the nymph climbs onto a hard surface - a stone, a snag or a stem. The skin of the larva dries out and cracks. A formed dragonfly emerges from it. The adult needs time to spread and harden its wings. The final color characteristic of the species takes several days to acquire.

Lifestyle

Dragonflies are diurnal predators and are active in warm, sunny weather. Night time and inclement weather are experienced in shelter. In the morning hours, adults gain energy by basking in the sun. They land on tree bark, branches, and grass stems. In hot weather, they point the tip of their abdomen upward, reducing the area of ​​sun exposure. Adults have excellent vision. They notice prey at a great distance and successfully attack.

Insects have no food preferences; they hunt any objects of suitable size. Varied-winged predators easily maneuver and dive, can make high-speed flights and move a considerable distance from the place of birth. Mass migration of the common dragonfly is observed in July-September. The emergence of adults after molting occurs gradually, so individual individuals can be found even in October.

Despite its reputation as a ruthless predator, the dragonfly itself often becomes prey. It is hunted by birds, reptiles, and mammals. Insects that land on the water are attacked by fish. Cannibalism flourishes among representatives of the order Odonata; large individuals catch and eat smaller ones. Swimming beetles and water bugs pose a danger to the larvae. How long does the common dragonfly live? This species spends several months at the adult stage. The larva develops for about 1 year.

Habitat

The common dragonfly is a transpalearctic species. Insects live in large numbers in Europe, Central Asia, Siberia, the Far East and northern Africa. They settle near lakes, swamps, and reclamation canals. They prefer ponds abundantly overgrown with vegetation.

Meaning for humans

Dragonflies and humans rarely have conflicts. Representatives of the Odonata family bring great benefits. They keep the number of blood-sucking insects – mosquitoes, gadflies, mosquitoes – under control. Adults destroy pests on land, and nymphs in water. Dragonflies are absolutely safe for people. They have stings and do not carry disease. Many species are sensitive to water conditions. They die when water bodies are polluted.

Human economic activities often threaten populations of certain dragonfly species. Representatives of Sympetrumvulgatum are safe for now. While near a body of water, with sufficient patience and caution, you can wait until you come into close contact with a dragonfly. The insect will land on your hand.

DRAGONFLY

Dragonfly, dragonfly,

Curious eyes

Then she flies forward

It hangs like a helicopter

Blue above the water

Over the meadow grass,

Above the forest clearing...

M. Shapovalov

Dragonflies are one of the most beautiful insects. They can be seen on a sunny summer day over the water. They come in different colors: blue, green, black... In Japan, dragonflies were considered a sign of victory, poems were written about them and depicted in paintings.

The dragonfly has four mesh wings, this helps it fly quickly, and its body, elongated like a rudder, guides it in flight. The flight speed of a dragonfly is 96–144 kilometers per hour. Her big eyes shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow! They occupy almost the entire head and consist of 28 thousand small eyes.

The dragonfly is voracious and constantly hunts. It feeds on small insects: mosquitoes, beetles, flies, moths. In an hour, a dragonfly can eat 40 flies.

Dragonflies are active all summer and hibernate in the fall. These insects can even predict the weather. If it does not spoil, they behave calmly, but before bad weather they gather in flocks and begin to make loud sounds, fluttering their wings. The largest dragonfly found in our country is the rocker. It is usually brownish-red in color, but blue dragonflies are also found. The wingspan of the rocker dragonfly is 10, and their body length is 8 centimeters.

You see everything, dragonfly,

TV eyes!

Your chirping flight

It's like a helicopter in the sky,

And during an “emergency” landing

You boldly show your paws.

E. Koryukin

Dragonfly larvae - also called naiads - eat a lot. With the help of a strongly extended downward lip, they grab fry, tadpoles and small beetles. The larva can eat up to 50 fry per day. In a year, a big-eyed beauty will fly out of the unsightly larva. She is still weak, her wings and body cover are soft, but after two hours she can already fly perfectly.

MYSTERY

small helicopter

Flies back and forth.

Big eyes,

Name - ... (dragonfly)

Dragonflies (lat. Odonata) are a detachment of predatory insects that can fly well. This order includes more than 5,000 species, the vast majority of which live in the tropical and humid subtropical zones. In Russia and Ukraine, dragonflies are distributed everywhere, except in areas with arid climates. There are about 150 species. According to classification, the order of dragonflies is divided into three suborders: heteroptera (grandmothers, rockers), homoptera (loves, arrows, beauties) and Anisozygoptera. Fossil records of dragonflies date back to the early Triassic period.

Dragonflies feed on other insects, capturing prey in flight. They eat midges, mosquitoes and some other pests.

Development. The development cycle of these insects is with incomplete transformation. Dragonflies mate in flight. Eggs are laid in a moist environment (in aquatic plants, directly in water, in moist soil). The larvae are called naiads. Their development takes place in water. Breathing through the gills. A distinctive feature of naiads is their excessively long lower lip, which forms a grasping apparatus - a mask. In the process of capturing prey, it sharply moves forward, and at rest closes its head from below. The larvae also lead a predatory lifestyle. Their food is larvae of aquatic insects, sometimes fish fry, and tadpoles. In the food chain, naiads are also often preyed on by fish. Upon completion of development, the larvae emerge from water bodies and attach to objects on land. This is where the final molt occurs during transformation into the adult. Eggs and naiads survive the winter period.

Structure. External structure of the imago. The body dimensions range from 1.5 mm to 12 cm, the wing length can be up to 9 cm. The abdomen of dragonflies is elongated, slender, usually brightly colored and shiny. On the moving head of the individual, large compound eyes and short bristle-like antennae are clearly visible. The special structure of the visual apparatus helps dragonflies better navigate in the surrounding space. Each eye consists of at least 30 thousand facets. The upper facets distinguish colors, while the lower ones determine exclusively the shape of objects. For better orientation, these insects have the ability to see in the infrared range.

Wings. Two pairs of transparent wings with a dense network of veins are attached to the chest. Representatives of homoptera dragonflies have fore and hind wings of almost the same shape, narrow, at rest they are above the body and pressed against each other. Different-winged dragonflies are distinguished by the fact that their wings are of different shapes, with the base of the rear pair being wider. At rest they seem to be apart. When flying, dragonflies flap their front and rear wings in turn, thereby gaining greater speed and improving flight maneuverability. Thus, dragonflies reach a maximum flight speed of 50 km/h.

Meaning. In nature, they occupy an important place in food chains. They are useful for humans because they eat many harmful insects (mosquitoes, midges). But they can be carriers of a dangerous infectious disease of poultry - protagonimiasis. Dragonfly larvae can cause harm by eating the fry of commercial fish in fish farms.

Dragonflies (Odonata), an order of predatory, good-flying insects. Large, with a movable head, large eyes, short bristle-like antennae, 4 transparent wings with a dense network of veins and an elongated slender abdomen. Dragonflies are divided into 3 suborders - Homoptera.

The life of dragonflies is inextricably linked with water. Their eggs and larvae develop in water. Adult insects and their predator larvae. Therefore, in the evening, in calm weather, you can see many dragonflies that flutter restlessly in the air. They eat dinner, catching mosquitoes, midges, etc. on the fly. In pursuit of insects, they fly at a speed of 50 km/h. Dragonflies live only in bodies of water with clean water, and therefore they are good bioindicators.

State of knowledge of dragonflies and their species composition

Dragonflies (Odonata), an order of predatory, good-flying insects. Large, with a movable head, large eyes, short bristle-like antennae, 4 transparent wings with a dense network of veins and an elongated slender abdomen. Dragonflies are divided into 3 suborders - homoptera (Zygoptera), heteroptera (Anisoptera) and Anisozygoptera with a single genus, common in Japan and India, whose representatives combine the characteristics of the first two suborders. In homoptera dragonflies, the fore and hind wings are narrow, almost identical in shape, and at rest they are raised up and pressed against each other; in heteroptera dragonflies, the wings are different in shape, at rest they are spread out to the sides, the rear pair has widened bases. Wing length 10-94 mm, abdomen 14-120 mm. Dragonflies feed on insects, snatching prey in flight. They exterminate mosquitoes, midges and other harmful insects, which is beneficial. They can also cause harm by spreading protogonimosis, a dangerous disease of poultry. Dragonflies mate on the fly. The secondary copulatory apparatus of males is highly specialized and has no analogues among insects. Eggs are laid in water or tissue of aquatic plants, less often in wet soil. The larvae develop in water and breathe through gills. The larvae of homoptera dragonflies have tracheal gills on the caudal appendages, and the larvae of heteroptera have rectal gills on the walls of the rectum, which is periodically filled with water. The transformation is incomplete. The larvae have a greatly elongated lower lip, which forms a grasping organ - a mask. When capturing prey, it is thrown forward, covering its head from below when at rest. Dragonfly larvae are also predators, they feed on the larvae of aquatic insects, and sometimes attack tadpoles and fish fry; in turn, serve as food for fish. Once development is complete, the larvae emerge from the water and attach themselves to plants or uneven soil. The last molt occurs on land near a body of water. Some types of dragonflies can fly long distances from bodies of water. During mass migrations, the spotted dragonfly Libellula quadrimaculata forms a continuous strip tens of kilometers long. Over 4,500 species, most of which live in the tropics and humid subtropics.

Despite the archaic nature of the organization (both pairs of wings are developed almost equally), they achieved perfection in flight. Thanks to their well-developed mouthparts and tenacious limbs, they can catch insects in flight (many dragonflies even mate in the air). The larvae develop in bodies of water, have three tracheal gills (or rectal gills in the abdomen) and a mask - a grasping organ, which is a modification of the lower lip. The larvae live from one to five years. There are about 5 thousand dragonflies in the world.

Dragonflies are aerial predators. They often eat prey on the fly. Large wings with reticulate venation in large dragonflies are always spread out to the sides, in small ones (arrows, lute) they can fold along the body at rest. Some dragonflies have wings of the same shape, narrowed towards the base (suborder Homoptera), while others have hind wings wider than the front ones, especially at the base (suborder Hemoptera). The mentioned suborders also differ in the structure of the larvae and biological features.

When examining a dragonfly, attention is drawn to its huge eyes, which occupy most of the head. The eye consists of 28 thousand facets (ommatids), each of which is served by 6 light-sensitive cells. A dragonfly can spot a mosquito at a distance of up to 10 meters. By eating mosquitoes, horseflies and other bloodsuckers, dragonflies bring great benefits.

The mouthparts of dragonflies are gnawing, the lower lip is spoon-shaped, supporting prey when eating in the air. The long legs are directed forward and lined with strong bristles, with the hind legs being longer than the front ones. This helps the dragonfly catch prey by flying up to it from below.

The thin rod-shaped abdomen acts as a balancer during flight. Males have “tongs” at the top of their abdomen, with which they hold the female by the neck during mating. Such “tandems” of dragonflies can often be observed near water bodies. Female dragonflies drop their eggs into the water or place them in the tissues of aquatic plants using a piercing ovipositor.

The color of dragonflies is dominated by blue, green, and yellow tones; a bright metallic sheen is less common. Some have spotted or darkened wings. In dried specimens, the color fades greatly and changes.

The development of all dragonflies necessarily passes through the aquatic stage - the nymph (this is the name given to insect larvae that have the rudiments of wings). All dragonfly nymphs are voracious predators, capturing prey with a modified lower lip - a mask, which rapidly opens and is thrown forward, while the claws at its front end, like stilettos, penetrate deeply into the victim. When the mask is folded, the prey is pulled to the mouth and quietly chewed. For breathing, nymphs use the hindgut, which, like a pump, constantly pumps oxygen-rich water through the anus. Based on size, structural features and habits, dragonfly nymphs are divided into a number of groups.

Dragonflies are medium or large-sized (up to 13 cm long) predatory insects characterized by gradual metamorphosis. In its development, an insect goes through three stages - egg, larva (nymph), imago. An incomplete type of transformation is characteristic. The adult has a slender or stocky body, with two pairs of similarly constructed wings with reticulate venation. The head has large compound (compound) eyes and three simple ocelli. The antennae are short, bristle-like, consisting of 4–7 segments. The mouthparts are of a gnawing type with strong mandibles. The first pair of wings has a pterostigma. The wings can be transparent or colored. The legs are running, the first pair is designed for holding prey. The hearing organs are located in the antennae, the sound organs are located at the base of the wings.

Larvae of the naiad type (have tracheal gills) live from one to three years. They molt up to 25 times during development. The larvae have gnawing-type mouthparts with a strongly elongated and knee-bending lower lip, transformed into a powerful grasping organ capable of holding prey; legs are strong; Representatives of the suborder Zygoptara have three lithic tail gills. The egg size, depending on the species, ranges from 0.5 mm to 2 mm. Adult dragonflies feed on insects caught in flight. Dragonflies are typical active predators. Each individual has its own territory on which it feeds, which it protects from its relatives and, if necessary, fights for it. Based on their behavior, they can be called predators - sentinels. Dragonflies eat mosquitoes, horseflies and many other representatives of arthropods, almost all insects that they can catch and defeat. Nymphs lead an aquatic lifestyle, living mainly in stagnant bodies of water: lakes, ponds and oxbow lakes. They cannot swim, but they walk along the bottom among decaying debris or vegetation. Nymphs are also predators: they catch aquatic insects and crustaceans, grabbing them with their retractable lip (mask) equipped with pinches. They also feed on mosquito and fly larvae.

Eggs are laid in various ways in or near water. Some species immerse them in plant tissue or rotten wood, others place them in the form of lumps on some objects directly below the surface of the water, others deposit them in the water in ribbons or rings, and sometimes place them in wet mud near the water's edge. Females of many species dive into the water and wash the eggs from the end of the abdomen. Others crawl underwater, laying eggs.

When laying eggs, some females fold their wings into a fan shape. A female can lay from 200 to 1600 eggs in her life. Some species reach several tens of thousands. Dragonflies can form migrations.

Nymphs of smaller species develop throughout the year. In large species, from two to four years. Wintering occurs at the nymph stage. Having reached full size, the nymph crawls out of the water and climbs onto a plant stem or some other object protruding from the water to molt for the last time. The covers of newly emerged adults harden and acquire color relatively slowly: many of them require one or two days to do this.

Females and males can be distinguished by the intensity of their color: males are brightly colored, while females are inconspicuous. At the top of the abdomen of males there are paired upper and unpaired lower outgrowths - appendages, while females have only paired upper ones. A remarkable feature of the order is its mating method. The credit for this goes to the male: unlike other male insects, male dragonflies have secondary reproductive organs, which are located on the second abdominal sternum - the bladder-shaped receptacle. The genital opening itself is located on the 9th sternum of the abdomen. Having such genitals, the male has to do the following before mating: the male bends the end of the abdomen forward and transfers the sperm to a bladder-shaped receiver. During mating, the male uses his caudal gonopods to clasp the female's neck; after this, the female bends her abdomen forward to the second sternite of the male and in this position the actual transfer of sperm takes place. Such an unusual procedure is unknown in any other order of insects.

The order Dragonfly (ODONATA) includes three types of insects; they differ sharply in their appearance and behavior, but the number of diagnostic signs by which they differ from each other is small. Modern forms of one of the suborders - Anisozygoptera - are very rare and distributed only in Southeast Asia. In modern taxonomy, the order includes two suborders - homoptera (Zygoptera) - heteroptera (Anisoptera).

The suborder ZYGOPTERA are slender and delicate insects with a fluttering flight, sharply contrasting with the fast and purposeful movements of heteroptera dragonflies. The imago of homoptera dragonflies is distinguished by a very uniquely constructed thorax: the mesothorax, together with the metathorax, has the appearance of an approximately rectangular prism located at approximately an angle of 70-80 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the body. The wings at rest are directed all together backwards and upwards at right angles to the upper edges of the mid- and posterior rear. Due to the fact that the latter are inclined to a certain extent, the wings folded in this way lie parallel to each other and are located directly above the abdomen. Most adults are dark-colored, however, some have red or black wing bands or metallic green or bronze body and wings. Nymphs also have a slender body and three large caudal tracheal gills. They prefer to live among the stems of aquatic plants, rather than directly at the bottom of reservoirs.

The suborder ANISOPTERA includes insects with a more robust physique, and are characterized by powerful, graceful and excellently controlled flight. The chest is not inclined as in representatives of homoptera dragonflies and the wings at rest are directed to the sides. Many species are brightly colored and have a striking pattern on their wings - mottled or spotted. Older individuals often develop a pale blue waxy coating on the body and wings, which masks the original color and pattern.

Nymphs are also densely built, many live in silt or mud at the bottom of stagnant bodies of water. They do not have external gills, but they have a rectal respiratory chamber in which gas exchange occurs. No such respiratory chamber has been found in any other order of insects.

The suborder includes two families - Aeschnidae, Libtllidae. Well-known representatives of this suborder are the species: flat dragonfly (Libellula depressa), reed dragonfly (Aeschna juncea). This suborder also includes the following species: emperor watcher (Anax imperator), Macromia magnifica; an extinct dragonfly found in Central France with wings spread up to 70 cm - Meganeura monyi.



These weightless, fragile creatures that adorn our planet have a long and undoubtedly amazing history, because dragonflies are the oldest of all insects existing today.

Their ancestors appeared on Earth about 350 million years ago and were gigantic in size. Their wingspan reached 90 cm, which is comparable to the characteristics of the largest birds living on the planet today.

But over time, the world around us has changed a lot. The creatures inhabiting it have also lost their primitive appearance. Now the wingspan of the largest dragonfly barely reaches 20 cm.

These insects are primarily attracted to their eyes. At first glance they seem disproportionately large. But since everything in nature is purposeful, natural and harmonious, there are no accidents here either. The eyes of dragonflies are facet-shaped and consist of many tiny eyes, the number of which can reach 30 thousand. Each of them functions independently and is separated from the others by pigment cells. Thanks to this structure, the dragonfly can simultaneously see everything that is happening around it to the left, right, front and back.

Sometimes it seems that these weightless creatures live outside the laws of gravity and air resistance: they either freeze in flight, then rush upward sharply, or rush somewhere at speeds reaching 90 km/h. Their continuous movement can last for several hours. Four wings provide amazing endurance and high speed to dragonflies. Each of the two pairs acts independently, but at the same time incredibly harmoniously, producing up to 150 strokes per second. As a result, insects can withstand long flights, and when tired in the evening, they sit on plant stems and rest until the morning.

It’s hard to believe, but it was the specificity of dragonflies fluttering in the air that became a clue when creating a jet aircraft. When the finished experimental engine was installed on the winged vehicle, it literally crumbled into separate fragments due to high speed and strong vibration. Entomologists helped improve the model of the aircraft, explaining to the designers the principle of operation of dragonfly wings, which have a special thickening at the front. This is precisely what dampens vibration during flight.

Despite the development of modern science, entomologists have still not been able to explain such a mysterious phenomenon as the duration of flights of dragonflies, which can travel thousands of kilometers. According to the stories of sailors, they often see these insects very far from the shore. Dragonflies decide to undertake such risky journeys infrequently - once every six to seven years, gathering in huge flocks.

They move in a continuous mass, the height and width of which reaches several meters. Where and why they fly is unknown. The unsolved mystery has given rise to many signs: some interpreters of unknown phenomena are confident that an encounter with a flock of dragonflies will bring a lot of trouble, others, on the contrary, see this as a favorable sign. In turn, scientists suggest that long-term unusual flights are most likely associated with an attempt to find new habitats.

The dragonfly is a fast and agile predator, as evidenced by its elongated oblong body, gnawing mouthparts, wide chest, and sweeping wings. With serrated jaws, it grabs small insects simply on the fly, and in order to feast on larger prey, it descends to the ground, sits on the stems of plants and catches the prey with its nimble paws. These insects are unsurpassed hunters. Seeing a small insect during its flight, a dragonfly instantly freezes in the air and, abruptly changing course, pounces on its prey. She still has the same appetite: she can swallow more than 40 flies in a day. They are also not averse to eating mosquitoes and midges.

Dragonflies are insects “free” from the laws of gravity.

Dragonflies look for a place to lay eggs in the area of ​​quiet, shallow reservoirs with low flow or standing water. Only males engage in a thorough search, choosing plant stems or moist coastal soil. They also protect the maturing offspring from the attacks of numerous competitors. The larvae of winged beauties (they are called naiads) begin to develop and live in the water. The ripening period, depending on the type, lasts from three months to five years. It is quite easy to distinguish them on the sandy bottom of reservoirs, although they have a similar color.