Conehead darner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Conehead darner |
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The conehead darner (scientific name: Austroaeschna subapicalis) is a type of large, speedy dragonfly. It belongs to the Telephlebiidae family, which is a group of dragonflies. You can find these amazing insects living near mountain streams. They live in parts of New South Wales and Victoria, which are states in Australia.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The conehead darner is a very dark dragonfly. It has pale markings, but they are not very clear or bright. This makes it look quite mysterious! It is a large insect, so it's easy to spot if you are looking for it.
How Big Are Dragonflies?
Dragonflies like the conehead darner can be quite big. They often have a wingspan of 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches). Some of the largest dragonflies in the world can have wingspans up to 16 centimeters (6 inches)!
Spotting the Conehead Darner
The conehead darner looks a lot like another dragonfly called the mountain darner (Austroaeschna atrata). The mountain darner lives in the high, cold areas of southern New South Wales and Victoria. Telling them apart can be tricky, even for experts!
Where Do Conehead Darners Live?
Conehead darners love to live near fresh water. They are often found around mountain streams. These streams provide the perfect home for them to hunt and lay their eggs.
Why Are Streams Important?
Mountain streams are important because they are clean and have lots of small insects. These insects are food for dragonflies. The water also helps dragonflies stay cool.
The Life of a Dragonfly
Dragonflies have an interesting life cycle. It starts with an egg, then a nymph, and finally an adult dragonfly.
From Egg to Nymph
Female conehead darners lay their eggs in or near water. When the eggs hatch, tiny creatures called nymphs come out. Dragonfly nymphs live underwater. They are fierce hunters, eating small water insects and even tiny fish! They breathe using gills, just like fish.
Growing Up Underwater
Nymphs can live underwater for months or even years. They shed their skin many times as they grow bigger. This process is called molting. When a nymph is ready, it crawls out of the water. It usually climbs onto a plant stem or a rock.
Becoming an Adult Dragonfly
Once out of the water, the nymph's skin splits open. The adult dragonfly slowly pulls itself out. This is an amazing transformation! At first, its wings are soft and crumpled. They soon harden and unfold. The new adult dragonfly then flies away.
What Do Dragonflies Eat?
Adult dragonflies are expert hunters. They eat other insects, especially mosquitoes and flies. They catch their prey while flying, using their strong legs like a basket. This makes them very helpful insects!
Gallery
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Female wings
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Male wings
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