California Dragonfly – The Lawrence Hall of Science

The Lawrence Hall of Science

Aeshna palmata

California Dragonfly

Carnivore: Larvae eat aquatic inhabitants and mosquitos, Adults eat any prey(insects) they can catch and sometimes other dragonflies

Geography: All over the world

Habitat: Aquatic, tropical, freshwater, deserts, forests, rainforest, lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, swamps

Interesting facts:

They are aquatic in the larval stage which lasts for two years
Larvae eat tadpoles, mosquitoes, fish, other larvae and can eat on another
At the end of the larval stage, their exoskeleton cracks open releasing 4 wings that harden over the next few days
They are able to mate mid-air and must fly to catch prey
They use their feet to grab prey while hunting
They have great eyesight which allows them to see almost everything except for what is right behind them
They have two sets of wings that can be used together or independently allowing them to easily maneuver through the air

An adult male Widow Skimmer Dragonfly perched on a water grass stem. The dragonfly has a long, slender body with a dark brown and white pattern, and its large, clear wings are visible in the image.

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A close-up photo of a Red Palm Weevil, a type of beetle known for its elongated snout and red-brown exoskeleton. The weevil is shown resting on a tree trunk with its wings folded, and its segmented body and long antennae are visible.

Red Palm Weevil

A macro shot of a Stick Insect, scientifically known as Carausius morosus, photographed up close. The insect has a brown, stick-like body with thin legs and antennae, and its camouflage adaptation to mimic a twig is visible in the image.

Walking Stick

This macro image shows a detailed view of an Asbolus beetle, a type of darkling beetle. The beetle is about 1 inch in length and has a dark blue or black exoskeleton with rough, warty bumps on its elytra (hardened forewings).

Blue Death Feigning Beetle

A Mission Blue Butterfly perched on a twig. The butterfly has iridescent blue wings with black borders and white spots. The background shows more greenery and foliage.

Mission Blue Butterfly

A vibrant and colorful Rainbow Grasshopper, also known as Dactylotum, captured in a photo showcasing its bright hues of red, yellow, green, and blue. The grasshopper is shown perched on a rock with its long hind legs and antennae clearly visible.

Rainbow grasshopper

A close-up image of a large Stag Beetle, with its distinctive long, curved mandibles visible. The beetle has a shiny black exoskeleton and large, round eyes.

Stag beetle

The Emperor Scorpion, a species of scorpion native to rainforests, photographed up close. The scorpion has a shiny black exoskeleton and large pincers, and its curved tail with a venomous stinger.

Emperor Scorpion

A Ceanothus Silkmoth, scientifically known as Hyalophora euryalus, photographed up close. TThe moth has a large wingspan with a pattern of brown and beige colors, and its distinctive eye spots on its wings. Its hairy body and antennae are also visible in the image.

Ceanothus Moth

An orange butterfly with black markings perched on a cluster of orange cosmos flowers. The butterfly has its wings spread out, revealing intricate patterns of black veins and spots. The background shows other flowers and green foliage.

Monarch Butterfly

A Goliath Birdeater, scientifically known as Theraphosa blondi, belonging to the tarantula family Theraphosidae. The large spider has a dark brown body with light-colored markings, and its long, hairy legs and two sharp fangs are visible in the image.

Goliath Birdeater

Close-up photos of an Asian Rhinoceros Beetle, showcasing its intricate and beautiful exoskeleton pattern and texture. The beetle has a curved horn-like protrusion on its head and its large compound eyes are also visible.

Red Rhinoceros Beetle

A close-up photo of two big Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, scientifically known as Gromphadorhina portentosa. The cockroaches have dark brown exoskeletons with ridges and bumps, and their long antennae and distinctive horns on their thorax are visible in the image.

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

A Mexican Red Knee Tarantula, scientifically known as Brachypelma smithi, running on yellow sand. The tarantula has a dark brown body with reddish-orange joints on its legs and its long black hairy legs are visible as it moves.

Red Kneed Tarantula

Close-up of a female Chinese Preying Mantis, also known as California Preying Mantis, sitting on a twig with its forelegs folded in front of its body.

California Mantis

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