Explore each of the topics below. Write down the information you discover in a two page report that describes what you have learned.
1. What is a dragonfly and where did it come from?
You can watch a video about the dragonfly here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnfeLYdoZQQ.
What is it?
What is the name of it's order in the insect family?
The dragonfly has been around a very long time. Fossils are petrified remains of animals, insects, plants, etc; that have been discovered in rocks. These tell us lots of information about the species and about how long ago they lived on the earth.
Scientists found fossils proving that the dragonfly was here how many years ago?
Do you think they lived with the dinosaurs?
Now, dragonflies have a wing-span (the length from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other) of 3-5 inches. Prehistoric dragonflies had a wing-span of up to two feet!
Let's compare this:
Take a piece of paper and fold it in half by bringing the top down to the bottom. From the fold to the right edge of the paper is 5 1/2 inches.
This is close to the wingspan of a dragonfly today.
Now take two pieces of paper and lay them side by side, with the short sides together. If you measure both papers across, it will measure 22 inches.
This is about the wingspan of dragonflies 200-300 million years ago!
You can see a picture of dragonfly fossil here: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/uniramia/odonata/protolindenia.jpg.
What is it?
What is the name of it's order in the insect family?
The dragonfly has been around a very long time. Fossils are petrified remains of animals, insects, plants, etc; that have been discovered in rocks. These tell us lots of information about the species and about how long ago they lived on the earth.
Scientists found fossils proving that the dragonfly was here how many years ago?
Do you think they lived with the dinosaurs?
Now, dragonflies have a wing-span (the length from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other) of 3-5 inches. Prehistoric dragonflies had a wing-span of up to two feet!
Let's compare this:
Take a piece of paper and fold it in half by bringing the top down to the bottom. From the fold to the right edge of the paper is 5 1/2 inches.
This is close to the wingspan of a dragonfly today.
Now take two pieces of paper and lay them side by side, with the short sides together. If you measure both papers across, it will measure 22 inches.
This is about the wingspan of dragonflies 200-300 million years ago!
You can see a picture of dragonfly fossil here: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/uniramia/odonata/protolindenia.jpg.
2. What are the body parts of a dragonfly and how does it fly?
To find out what the body parts are of a dragonfly, visit this site: http://www.naturenorth.com /dragonfly/DOM/Page01_Biology.html .
How many parts (or segments) are in a dragonfly's abdomen?
How many legs does it have?
Watch the video about the dragonfly's jaws.
Does it have teeth?
At the bottom of the page, click on "Sight and Flight".
How does the dragonfly see?
What are compound eyes?
What does this type of eye help the dragonfly to detect or see?
Watch the video of a dragonfly flying in slow-motion.
What type of airplane does the dragonfly remind you of?
Dragonflies are being studied because of their ability to change direction, fly backwards, and stop in mid-flight.
Does the dragonfly use all of its wings at the same time?
Do the wings move together or by themselves?
How fast does the dragonfly fly? How many times does it beat it's wings per second?
How many parts (or segments) are in a dragonfly's abdomen?
How many legs does it have?
Watch the video about the dragonfly's jaws.
Does it have teeth?
At the bottom of the page, click on "Sight and Flight".
How does the dragonfly see?
What are compound eyes?
What does this type of eye help the dragonfly to detect or see?
Watch the video of a dragonfly flying in slow-motion.
What type of airplane does the dragonfly remind you of?
Dragonflies are being studied because of their ability to change direction, fly backwards, and stop in mid-flight.
Does the dragonfly use all of its wings at the same time?
Do the wings move together or by themselves?
How fast does the dragonfly fly? How many times does it beat it's wings per second?
3. Where does the dragonfly live and what does it eat?
The dragonfly's home is called its habitat.
What does the dragonfly need to be in as a nymph and near as an adult?
Why?
To find your answers, go to: http://www.biokids.umich.edu/.
In the search bar at the top of the page, type in dragonfly, look for the words "Dragonflies (Anisoptera)". Under these words, you will see a picture of a page and a picture of a camera. Click on the picture of the page and you will find information on the dragonfly's habitat.
Farther down the page you will find information on what the dragonfly eats.
What does it eat in it's aquatic stage (as a nymph)?
What does it eat as an adult?
Do you think that what the dragonfly eats makes it helpful to people?
Yes or no? Why or why not?
What does the dragonfly need to be in as a nymph and near as an adult?
Why?
To find your answers, go to: http://www.biokids.umich.edu/.
In the search bar at the top of the page, type in dragonfly, look for the words "Dragonflies (Anisoptera)". Under these words, you will see a picture of a page and a picture of a camera. Click on the picture of the page and you will find information on the dragonfly's habitat.
Farther down the page you will find information on what the dragonfly eats.
What does it eat in it's aquatic stage (as a nymph)?
What does it eat as an adult?
Do you think that what the dragonfly eats makes it helpful to people?
Yes or no? Why or why not?
4. The life cycle of the dragonfly
Go here to find out about the dragonfly's life cycle: http://www.dragonfly-site.com/dragonfly-life-cycle.html.
Where does the female dragonfly lay her eggs?
How long does the dragonfly remain in the nymph stage?
Do dragonfly nymphs have wings?
After the dragonfly becomes an adult, how long will it live?
Would you say the dragonfly lives longer in the water or out of the water?
Where does the female dragonfly lay her eggs?
How long does the dragonfly remain in the nymph stage?
Do dragonfly nymphs have wings?
After the dragonfly becomes an adult, how long will it live?
Would you say the dragonfly lives longer in the water or out of the water?
