 Spring 2007 |
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Skippers & DragonfliesArticle and Photographs © 2001 Jan A. Allinder, All Rights Reserved. Skippers
The Fiery Skipper is a common visitor to backyard gardens. They are at home in the fields and other grassy areas as well. They feed on the nectar from various plants. Camera equipment used: Nikon F5, Nikkor 200 macro lens set on f/8, Afga RSX 100; Gitzo tripod, Arca-Swiss B-2 Ballhead. DragonfliesDragonflies are a very ancient order of insects. Fossils exist from more than 300 million years ago. They live on or near the water. They are a quick-darting insect that can change their direction quickly in mid-flight. Their sudden movements are often hard to follow with the eye. Dragonflies can also hover over a lake or stream as it looks for food.
Dragonflies use four distinct flight mechanisms to fly forward at more than 100 body lengths/sec, backwards at more than 3 body lengths/sec, and hover, all while maintaining their body horizontal. Their estimated flight speed is 19-35 mph. Adult wingspans measure from 17-18 mm (Agriocnemis) to 8 inches (Coerulatus, in Central America). Most temperate zone species have wingspreads of 2 to 3 inches, and range in length from 3/4 to 5 inches. The wingspans of prehistoric dragonflies reached from 24 up to 31.5 inches and they were the largest insects known. Members of both suborders have large heads with very large and sensitive compound eyes (made up of 20,000 to 25,000 tiny eyes) and relatively short antennae. Dragonflies have mouths adapted for biting. The segmented abdomen is relatively long. The six legs are located far forward and close together on the body and are seldom used for walking. Dragonflies undergo incomplete metamorphosis during their development. The shortest egg-to-adult duration is about 40 days for small tropical damselflies and large dragonflies from temporary pools. Larval life spans can approach a decade in alpine and high arctic habitats, but adults in most temperate species live less than a month (although some species regularly survive for up to six months). No dragonfly is known to live a year as an adult. Benefits to backyard wildlife habitats? They consume large amounts of mosquitoes. Camera equipment used: Nikon D1, Nikkor 200 macro lens set on f/8, Lexar Digital Film; Gitzo tripod. Other Reading/ResourcesDragonfly
Museum Closeups in Nature by John Shaw. Excellent book for anyone interested in learning more about macro photography. |
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Skippers
are found around the world. They are much more common in the tropics
than they are in the arctic and subarctic. In North America alone, there
are more than 280 species. Most skippers are relatively dull in color
with orange, brown, black, white and gray wing colors. They get their
name from their rapidly darting flight.
There
are quite a few superfamilies in the butterfly family, Lepidoptera "scaly
wings". The easiest way to distinguish between butterflies,
skippers and moths is by their antennae. Skippers have clubbed antennae
with a point at the tip; butterflies have clubbed antennae (enlarged
at the tip) and moths have feathered antennae. Both butterflies and skippers
are daytime fliers, while most moths are night fliers.
Dragonflies
have two pairs of elongated membranous wings, of which the rear wings
have a broader base and are larger than the front pair. In contrast,
the damselfly are generally smaller, slenderer, with nearly equal wing
size, and fly more slowly and lazily. About 5000 species are presently
formally described, and expert "guesses" put the total number
between 5500 and 6500. North America has about 300 species. Members
of the order are found in all temperate and tropical regions of the
world.