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Resting


Resting
Photo Information
Copyright: Sochirca Ana Maria (mariuca) Silver Star Critiquer [C: 18 W: 0 N: 1] (105)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05
Categories: Nature
Camera: Olympus
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-06-11 11:55
Viewed: 250
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Is a dragonfly a fly?
No. Flies are insects with two wings. Dragonflies have four wings. However, both flies and dragonflies are insects, meaning that they have six legs and three body parts: a head, a thorax, and an abdomen.

Why are they called dragonflies?

The name comes from their fierce jaws, which they use to catch flies (among other winged insects).

Where do dragonflies come from?

The dragonfly begins its life as an egg. Adult female dragonflies lay their eggs in water. After about two weeks, the eggs hatch and an immature dragonfly, or nymph, emerges. The nymphs are not pretty like the adults. They have tiny wings and a large lower lip, which they use to catch their prey (often mosquito larvae). Dragonfly nymphs live in the water. As they grow, they molt (shed their skin). Nymphs of some species may take as long as three years to mature.

When the dragonfly nymph reaches maturity, it crawls out of the water onto a plant stem. Then its skin begins to split. First the head, then the thorax, then the legs, and then the wings of an adult dragonfly emerge. Soon the newly emerged dragonfly is able to fly. The process takes about two hours. It takes about two days before the adult dragonfly's beautiful colors are fully developed. Adult dragonflies live only a few months.

How long have dragonflies been around?

Dragonflies are ancient insects. They were around before the dinosaurs! Ancient dragonflies may have been considerably larger than those we see today. A fossilized impression of a dragonfly wing, found in a coal mine in England, is the oldest known dragonfly specimen. This dragonfly lived 300 million years ago and had a wingspan of eight inches. The largest known dragonfly had a wingspan of 24 inches (two feet). Today, the largest dragonfly is found in South America and has a wingspan of slightly over seven inches. Other than being smaller, modern-day dragonflies do not look very different from their ancestors.
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Critiques [Translate]

sharp and clear,nice setting

  •      
  • tsesler Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 573 W: 13 N: 1053] (5399)
  • [2008-06-11 12:20]

Hi Ana Maria,
beautiful compo,
perfect clarity and sharpnes,
welldone and tfs,
regards,
Taner
:) tomorrow

  • Great 
  • Tizio Silver Star Critiquer [C: 16 W: 0 N: 3] (191)
  • [2008-06-11 12:51]

beautiful shot!well done TFS
Tizio :-)

Ana Maria,
Nice note. Not sure from were you took it, but for your information, flies have also 4 wings, but the back pair is used for flight control only ! Anyway, nice macro capture. good light and sharp details,
Cheers,
Wellington
http://www.treklens.com/members/wbriques/photos/

Hi,
Good capture
Best regards
Burak28

Hello Ana Maria,
Great macro, superb details, very good POV and DOF.
Best regards,
Siegfried

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