Dragonflies Mating at Pa-Hay-Okee, Everglades National Park, Florida

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The Dragonfly is an insect with the adult Dragonflies characterized by large, multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, sometimes with colored patches, and an elongated body. Dragonflies can be mistaken for the related group, damselflies, which are similar in structure, though usually lighter in build; however, the wings of most dragonflies are held flat and away from the body, while damselflies hold the wings folded at rest, along or above the abdomen. Dragonflies are agile fliers, while damselflies have a weaker, fluttery flight. Many dragonflies have brilliant iridescent or metallic colors produced by structural coloration, making them conspicuous in flight. An adult dragonfly's compound eyes have nearly 24,000 ommatidia each. Fossils of very large dragonfly ancestors in are found from 325 million years ago in Upper Carboniferous rocks; these had wingspans up to about 30 inches (75cm). About 3000 species dragonflies found are around the world today. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Dragonflies are predators, both in their aquatic larval stage, when they are known as nymphs or naiads, and as adults. Several years of their lives are spent as nymphs living in fresh water; the adults may be on the wing for just a few days or weeks. They are fast, agile fliers, sometimes migrating across oceans, and are often found near water and have a uniquely complex mode of reproduction involving indirect insemination, delayed fertilization, and sperm competition. During mating, the male grasps the female at the back of the head or on the prothorax, and the female curls her abdomen under her body to pick up sperm from the male's secondary genitalia at the front of his abdomen, forming the "heart" or "wheel" posture.

Taken in: United States / Florida / Monroe (show map)

Taken on: March 18, 2024

Tags:

Dragonfly

Dragonflies

Odonata

Anisoptera

Mating

Multifaceted Eyes

Compound Eyes

Transparent Wings

Elongated Body

Iridescent Colors

Metallic Colors

Pa-Hay-Okee

Everglades National Park

Everglades

National Park

Florida

Paul Fernandez « less

Sets appears in: • Miscellaneous

Camera: Nikon D850, f/16.0, 0.004 sec (1/250) sec (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D850
Aperture:	f/16.0
Exposure Time:	0.004 sec (1/250)
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Stats: 242 views / 2 comments

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