Dragonfly Nymph????
- Thread starter Ruth
- Start date
Help Support Slippertalk Orchid Forum:
E
Eric Muehlbauer
Guest
That's what it is...or at least the husk of one.
SlipperFan
Addicted
Me, too -- and we have lots of them this year!
Rick
Well-Known Member
Could also be damsel fly (subtle difference) But hundreds of species of both, I'm not good at identifying either of their nymphs in profile.
C
Clark
Guest
Neat!
Jaljala
Well-Known Member
Yes it is a dragonfly exuvia (what is left after the adult comes out). It is the general shape of a Darner (Aeshnidae, one of many dragonflies families). One of the most common species related to this group is green and blue, the Common Green Darner (you can google it).
Damselflies exuviae are very different, very slim and small.
Damselflies exuviae are very different, very slim and small.
Rick
Well-Known Member
Thanks Jaljala
Seems like down here in the south, there are some big damsel flies among the dragon flies.
They are generally pretty slim in abdomen compared to the dragon fly nymphs.
Seems like down here in the south, there are some big damsel flies among the dragon flies.
They are generally pretty slim in abdomen compared to the dragon fly nymphs.
P
Paph_LdyMacBeth
Guest
They're so creepy looking 
I've given out a good scream or two coming across these...and then quickly relax when I realize they aren't tarantulas (which we clearly have in Ontario). lol
I've given out a good scream or two coming across these...and then quickly relax when I realize they aren't tarantulas (which we clearly have in Ontario). lol
Jaljala
Well-Known Member
Rick, I am not sure I understand properly (please correct me if I don't!), but if you are asking, the main difference between adult (flying) Dragonfly and Damselfly is the way they hold their wings when resting: Dragonflies have their wings in an horizontal position on both sides of their body, while Damselfies keep their wings all together vertical behind their body (of course there are some exceptions to the rule :evil
. But you are also right about the slim abdomen for damselfies (adults as well as larvae).Rick
Well-Known Member
You are quite right Jaljala.
I do a fair amount of stream surveys in southern states and see lots of bug larvae. But its not my area of specialty. I mostly just stick them in the bottle and let the specialists sort them out.
For me the most obvious larvae (nymphs) of dragon flies are when I see them in dorsal aspect and they are real wide and spade shaped. But I also know that a bunch of them are more generally cigar shaped (more like this darner).
Most of the damsel fly larvae are small and thin (stick like), but then there are some heavier body good size damsel fly nymphs that I pull out of overhanging roots and vegetation, but they usually have some long tail like appendages projecting from the end of their abdomen.
Anyway the odonate diversity is so high I usually screw up trying to get them sorted out to just dragon vs damsel fly level.
I do a fair amount of stream surveys in southern states and see lots of bug larvae. But its not my area of specialty. I mostly just stick them in the bottle and let the specialists sort them out.
For me the most obvious larvae (nymphs) of dragon flies are when I see them in dorsal aspect and they are real wide and spade shaped. But I also know that a bunch of them are more generally cigar shaped (more like this darner).
Most of the damsel fly larvae are small and thin (stick like), but then there are some heavier body good size damsel fly nymphs that I pull out of overhanging roots and vegetation, but they usually have some long tail like appendages projecting from the end of their abdomen.
Anyway the odonate diversity is so high I usually screw up trying to get them sorted out to just dragon vs damsel fly level.
