Forerunners of the Odonata
Paleodictyoptera Protodonata

Forerunners of the Odonata
Protodonata

Simplified Evolutionary History of the Odonata
300 200 100
Carboniferous Permian Triassic Jurassic Cretaceous
Paleodictyoptera
Protodonata
“ Anisozygoptera ”
Epiophlebioptera
Anisoptera
Zygoptera

Odon - tooth
Number of Species >5000
Common names
Typical habitats damselflies, dragonflies, skippers , darners
Aquatic nymph, aerial adult
Distinguishing characteristics direct flight muscles
-wings can ’ t be folded
Other features nymphs with labial mask for prey capture
primitive wing venation - archedictyon

Odonata
Direct flight muscles

Odonata -Evolutionary History
Meganeuropsis Permian

Odonata - Adult modifications
Modifications for a predatory life
Well-developed mandibles
Large eyes

Odonata - Adult modifications
Modifications for a predatory life
-orientation of thoracic segments
-changed orientation of legs
-spines on legs

Odonata - larval modifications
Modifications for an aquatic predatory life
Mouthparts palp prementum mentum submentum
Larvae Hunting

Odonata - Classification - OLD
-larvae with caudal lamellae
-wings held vertically at rest
-wings same size
Odonata
-larvae with no caudal lamellae
-wings held horizontally at rest
-wings different size
Zygoptera
Anisozygoptera
Anisoptera

Simplified Evolutionary History of the Odonata
300 200 100
Carboniferous Permian Triassic Jurassic Cretaceous
Paleodictyoptera
Protodonata
“ Anisozygoptera ”
Epiophlebioptera
Anisoptera
Zygoptera

Odonata
Odonata
Epiprocta
Zygoptera
Anisozygoptera
Anisoptera
Zygoptera
Epiophlebioptera
Anisoptera

-larvae with caudal lamellae
-wings held vertically at rest
-wings same size
-wings petiolate
Odonata
Epiprocta
-larvae with no caudal lamellae
-wings held horizontally at rest
-wings different size
Zygoptera
Epiophlebioptera
Anisoptera

Number of Species
Zygoptera
Zygo - equal, ptera- wing
≈ 2000
Anisoptera
Aniso - unequal, ptera- wing
≈ 4000
Common names damselflies dragonflies
Typical habitats Aquatic nymph, aerial adult
Distinguishing characteristics
Other features
direct flight muscles
-wings can ’ t be folded
wings are same size
wings held vertically
-slender
-nymph - 3 caudal gills
nymphs with labial mask for prey capture
Primitive wing venation
direct flight muscles
-wings can ’ t be folded
- hind wing larger
- wings held horizontally
-robust
-nymph - no caudal gills

Odonata - Suborders - Zygoptera
Damselflies - distinguishing features
1. Larvae with Caudal Lamellae

Odonata - Suborders - Zygoptera
Damselflies - distinguishing features
1. Larvae with caudal lamellae
2. Wings held vertically at rest

Odonata - Suborders - Zygoptera
Damselflies - distinguishing features
1. Larvae with caudal lamellae
2. Wings held vertically at rest
3. Wings are same size and shape

Odonata - Suborders - Zygoptera
Damselflies - distinguishing features
1. Larvae with caudal lamellae
2. Wings held vertically at rest
3. Wings are same size and shape
3. Wings are petiolate

Zygoptera – other features

Odonata - Suborders - Anisoptera
Dragonflies - distinguishing features
1. Larvae with no caudal lamellae

Odonata - Suborders - Anisoptera
Dragonflies - distinguishing features
1. Larvae with no caudal lamellae
2. Wings held horizontally at rest

Odonata - Suborders - Anisoptera
Dragonflies - distinguishing features
1. Larvae with no caudal lamellae
2. Wings held horizontally at rest
3. Wings are a different size and shape
Anal lobe

Odonata - Suborders - Epiophlebioptera
Living fossils - share features of Zygoptera and Anisoptera
Zygoptera
-wings are petiolate
-wings are ≈
Anisoptera
-nymphs - no caudal lamellae
(-but no jet propulsion)

Odonata - Suborders - Epiophlebioptera

Odonata - Suborders - Epiophlebioptera

Odonata - General Features
Mating

Hagenius brevistylus

Odonata - General Features
Mating
Penes of male
Argia (Odonata)

Odonata - General Features
Mating
Courtship
Oviposition
Copulation

Odonata - General Features
Territory

Odonata - General Features
Territory
Switzer 2002

Odonata - General Features
Life Cycle
Flies inland to feed and mature
Returns to water to set up territory and mate
Aquatic nymph
Nymph leaves water and molts

Odonata - oviposition
Endophytic
Exophytic

So far in classfication
Paleoptera
Odonata
NEOPTERA
Ephemeroptera
Zygoptera
Epiophlebioptera
Anisoptera

Video on Dragonflies
(Ignore the largely stupid, overly dramatic commentary) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezq_JWd1Sd8

Neoptera
Plecoptera
Zoraptera
Embiodea
Dermaptera
Grylloblattodea
Mantophasmatodea
Phasmida
Orthoptera
Mantodea
Isoptera
Blattaria
Psocoptera
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Thysanoptera
Hemiptera
Coleoptera
Rhaphidioptera
Megaloptera
Neuroptera
Hymenoptera
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Diptera
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Trichoptera
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Neuropterida
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