Dragonflies and damselflies belong to the order Odonata. Dragonflies are grouped in the suborder Anisoptera while the damselflies are of the suborder Zygoptera. There are about 5,000 species of these creatures worldwide.
Studies on fossilized dragonflies clearly showed that these creatures have not changed much in body form since the time it began to exist on earth over 3000 million years ago. Pre-historic dragonflies grow up to 30 cm in length and have wingspan of up to 75 cm, making them giants of the insects’ world then, these days dragonflies with 18 cm wingspan are a rarity.
An exclusive feature these creatures have which is not seen among other species of insects is their ability to fly in reverse and also hover in a fixed position in mid-air. Dragonflies and damselflies are predators, both as nymphs during which they feed on aquatic creatures and as adults during which they feed on air borne insects including pests that threaten mankind. So far no known species of the Odonata themselves have been found to be pests.
Studies on fossilized dragonflies clearly showed that these creatures have not changed much in body form since the time it began to exist on earth over 3000 million years ago. Pre-historic dragonflies grow up to 30 cm in length and have wingspan of up to 75 cm, making them giants of the insects’ world then, these days dragonflies with 18 cm wingspan are a rarity.
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