Dr a go uflics 



207 



The dragonflies and damselflies (order Odonata) are 

 all aquatic. The adults are carnivorous insects that go 

 hawking about over the surfaces of ponds and meadows, 

 capturing and eating a great variety of lesser insects. 

 The larger dragonflies eat the smaller ones. 



Fig 114. An adult damselfly, Iscknura verticalis, perchinj 

 low galingale, Cy perns diandrus. 



on the stem of a 



The form of body in the dragonflies is peculiar and 

 distinctive. The head, which is nearly overspread by 

 the huge eyes, is loosely poised on the apex of a narrow 

 prothorax. The remainder of the thorax is enlarged and 

 the wings are shifted backward upo^ i\ and the legs 

 forward, adapting them fc ■ pe ine on vertical stems.. 



