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What is the difference between a dragonfly and a damselfly Damselflies also belong to the group Odonata, and can easily be mistaken for dragonflies unless you know what to look for. Both dragonflies and damselflies have four wings, but a dragonfly’s hind wings are usually shorter and broader than its front wings. A damselfly’s wings are equal in size and shape. Dragonflies are usually larger than damselflies, and when a dragonfly is at rest, it holds its wings out from its body, whereas a damselfly folds its wings along the length of its body. Although both are often found near water, dragonflies venture further afield. Why do dragonflies have big eyes Like many insects, a dragonfly’s eyes take up most of its head, giving it a 360-degree field of vision. Each human eye has just one lens, but a dragonfly has many thousands of lenses in each eye (called compound eyes). This means it can see in front, above, below and behind – perfect for detecting the slightest movement, whether to catch prey or escape from danger. A dragonfly has 360-degree all-round vision. 14 A damselfly folds its wings along the length of its body (left), whereas a dragonfly’s are held away. Why do dragonflies live by water Dragonflies are often seen near water because this is where the female lays her eggs. When the eggs hatch, the larvae (called nymphs) live beneath the water, breathing through gills and feeding on tadpoles and small fish. Dragonflies stay in this laval state for up to five years. When they are ready to become adults, they climb up a reed or piece of plant matter, where their old laval skin splits overnight and a beautiful dragonfly emerges in the warmth of the morning sun. Is a dragonfly a type of fly While it’s true that both dragonflies and flies are insects, flies have just two wings, whereas dragonfiles have four. So, a dragonfly is not a type of fly. As a general rule, most insects have four wings; flies are the exception.
How fast can dragonflies actually fly Dragonflies can beat each pair of wings independently: their front wings go down while the back ones come up. This makes all dragonflies excellent fliers. They can loop-the-loop, hover and even fly backwards! These amazing wings enable most large dragonflies to reach speeds of about 30 kph (18 mph), but the Australian dragonfly, Austrophlebia costalis, beats them all. It has been recorded at an incredible 58 kph (36 mph)! Dragonflies return to water to lay their eggs.
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Page 5 and 6: Now You See Me Pages 34-36 Rainfore
Page 7 and 8: There are millions of species of in
Page 9 and 10: WHAT’S BUGGING YOU? Bedbugs, assa
Page 11 and 12: Are bugs able to live under water a
Page 13 and 14: Male stag beetles take to the air o
Page 15: EYE SPY DRAGONFLY Dragonflies are o
Page 19 and 20: All the members of the Orthoptera f
Page 21 and 22: FLUTTERBY BUTTERFLY Butterflies and
Page 23 and 24: BUSY BODIES There are over 19,000 k
Page 25 and 26: ANT-TASTIC Ants and termites are kn
Page 27 and 28: What does a queen ant do The queen
Page 29 and 30: Which beetle has the most disgustin
Page 31 and 32: Do insects use their legs in self-d
Page 33 and 34: STAYING ALIVE It’s a jungle out t
Page 35 and 36: Do butterflies, moths and caterpill
Page 37 and 38: What is a leaf butterfly This amazi
Page 39 and 40: UP, UP AND AWAY The way in which in
Page 41 and 42: Why are moths attracted to light No
Page 43 and 44: Why does scent matter The insect wo
Page 45 and 46: Do killer bees really exist African
Page 47 and 48: Which rainforest insect tucks itsel
Page 49 and 50: Which water insect lives at the bot
Page 51 and 52: Which insect helps to turn over the
Page 53 and 54: How else do insects find water to d
Page 55 and 56: Ponds and swamps provide excellent
Page 57 and 58: DESERT BUGS You might expect the dr
Page 60 and 61: THE EYES HAVE IT To make up for the
Page 62 and 63: How does a caterpillar see its food
Page 64 and 65: GLOSSARY Honeycomb A waxy structure
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INDEX African honeybee 43 African s
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