Dragonfly Nymph???? - DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate

**giDdfezP** · 07-15-2012, 04:14 AM

I was out by our pond, and I found this on the cattails. Is it a dragonfly nymph? Haven't seen any before.

**SasV7ReJ** · 07-15-2012, 04:59 AM

That's what it is...or at least the husk of one.

**giDdfezP** · 07-15-2012, 05:23 AM

Cool!!!!
I saw several, and havent' seen them there before. Dragonfly's are a favorite of mine.

**LSDDSL** · 07-15-2012, 06:17 AM

Quote:

**treawittelf** · 07-15-2012, 04:12 PM

Could also be damsel fly (subtle difference) But hundreds of species of both, I'm not good at identifying either of their nymphs in profile.

**Mello** · 07-15-2012, 08:35 PM

Neat!

**Hitfaromarf** · 07-16-2012, 12:54 AM

Yes it is a dragonfly exuvia (what is left after the adult comes out). It is the general shape of a Darner (Aeshnidae, one of many dragonflies families). One of the most common species related to this group is green and blue, the Common Green Darner (you can google it).
Damselflies exuviae are very different, very slim and small.

**treawittelf** · 07-16-2012, 03:10 AM

Thanks Jaljala

Seems like down here in the south, there are some big damsel flies among the dragon flies.

They are generally pretty slim in abdomen compared to the dragon fly nymphs.

**Infellgedq** · 07-16-2012, 08:28 PM

They're so creepy looking

I've given out a good scream or two coming across these...and then quickly relax when I realize they aren't tarantulas (which we clearly have in Ontario). lol

**giDdfezP** · 07-17-2012, 06:43 AM

They look very prehistoric to me. The wind must have blown them away, as I can't find them anymore.

**Hitfaromarf** · 07-17-2012, 09:15 AM

Quote:

**treawittelf** · 07-19-2012, 05:21 AM

You are quite right Jaljala.

I do a fair amount of stream surveys in southern states and see lots of bug larvae. But its not my area of specialty. I mostly just stick them in the bottle and let the specialists sort them out.

For me the most obvious larvae (nymphs) of dragon flies are when I see them in dorsal aspect and they are real wide and spade shaped. But I also know that a bunch of them are more generally cigar shaped (more like this darner).

Most of the damsel fly larvae are small and thin (stick like), but then there are some heavier body good size damsel fly nymphs that I pull out of overhanging roots and vegetation, but they usually have some long tail like appendages projecting from the end of their abdomen.

Anyway the odonate diversity is so high I usually screw up trying to get them sorted out to just dragon vs damsel fly level.

07-15-2012, 04:14 AM	#1
giDdfezP Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 473 Senior Member	Dragonfly Nymph???? I was out by our pond, and I found this on the cattails. Is it a dragonfly nymph? Haven't seen any before. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-15-2012, 04:59 AM	#2
SasV7ReJ Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 310 Senior Member	That's what it is...or at least the husk of one. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-15-2012, 05:23 AM	#3
giDdfezP Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 473 Senior Member	Cool!!!! I saw several, and havent' seen them there before. Dragonfly's are a favorite of mine. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-15-2012, 06:17 AM	#4
LSDDSL Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 619 Senior Member	Quote: Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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07-15-2012, 04:12 PM	#5
treawittelf Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 535 Senior Member	Could also be damsel fly (subtle difference) But hundreds of species of both, I'm not good at identifying either of their nymphs in profile. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-15-2012, 08:35 PM	#6
Mello Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 495 Senior Member	Neat! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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07-16-2012, 12:54 AM	#7
Hitfaromarf Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 426 Senior Member	Yes it is a dragonfly exuvia (what is left after the adult comes out). It is the general shape of a Darner (Aeshnidae, one of many dragonflies families). One of the most common species related to this group is green and blue, the Common Green Darner (you can google it). Damselflies exuviae are very different, very slim and small. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-16-2012, 03:10 AM	#8
treawittelf Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 535 Senior Member	Thanks Jaljala Seems like down here in the south, there are some big damsel flies among the dragon flies. They are generally pretty slim in abdomen compared to the dragon fly nymphs. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-16-2012, 08:28 PM	#9
Infellgedq Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 478 Senior Member	They're so creepy looking I've given out a good scream or two coming across these...and then quickly relax when I realize they aren't tarantulas (which we clearly have in Ontario). lol Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-17-2012, 06:43 AM	#10
giDdfezP Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 473 Senior Member	They look very prehistoric to me. The wind must have blown them away, as I can't find them anymore. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-17-2012, 09:15 AM	#11
Hitfaromarf Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 426 Senior Member	Quote: Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-19-2012, 05:21 AM	#12
treawittelf Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 535 Senior Member	You are quite right Jaljala. I do a fair amount of stream surveys in southern states and see lots of bug larvae. But its not my area of specialty. I mostly just stick them in the bottle and let the specialists sort them out. For me the most obvious larvae (nymphs) of dragon flies are when I see them in dorsal aspect and they are real wide and spade shaped. But I also know that a bunch of them are more generally cigar shaped (more like this darner). Most of the damsel fly larvae are small and thin (stick like), but then there are some heavier body good size damsel fly nymphs that I pull out of overhanging roots and vegetation, but they usually have some long tail like appendages projecting from the end of their abdomen. Anyway the odonate diversity is so high I usually screw up trying to get them sorted out to just dragon vs damsel fly level. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

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