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Dragonflies and damselflies are in the same order, Odonata, but they are taxonomically separated on an obscure level not built into this site, the suborder. Dragonflies are in the rarely mentioned suborder Epiprocta, and within that suborder is the infraorder Anisoptera, the scientific name by which they're best known. None of that will help you catch trout, but it explains what the hyphen in this page's name is all about. Read more...
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Troutnut | December 7th, 2006, 11:23 am | |
Administrator Bellevue, WAPosts: 2737 | Our great discussion of hellgrammites included a very interesting little tangent about the feeding habits of dragonflies which I'm copying into the dragonfly section. Martinlf wrote: This is pure trivia, and non-hellgrammite related, but Brett's comments on the discards of bats and nighthawks reminded me of an experience on the Delaware. I was fishing with a guide and we saw several mayfly wing and thorax combos floating along with missing abdomens. At first we hypothesized that a small trout must have bitten the abdomen right off. Then we saw a dragonfly intercept a sulphur mid flight, chew up the abdomen almost instantly, and let the wings and thorax fall, helicoptering like a winged maple seed. This is probably not news to the entomologists here, but some everyday anglers might not have yet noticed this phenomenon. Gonzo, do we have a wing and thorax tie yet? Gonzo replied: Louis, I love watching dragonflies feed on mayflies, but I admit I've never noticed the falling discards. I'll keep an eye out for them next season. A good photo sequence of the phenomenon would be awesome, but I think my photography skills would need to jump several orders of magnitude to capture such a thing in action. | |
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D. Troutnut and salmonid ecologist | ||
Title | Replies | Last Reply |
Re: Why mayflies dance In General Discussion by Troutnut | 5 | Dec 5, 2007 by Martinlf |
Re: Photo Request In General Discussion by Feathers5 | 4 | Mar 14, 2013 by Lastchance |
Re: Identification of a possible Cordulegaster Dragonfly Nymph In Cordulegaster Dragonfly Nymph by IanB | 6 | Feb 10, 2017 by Taxon |
Re: Site updates from May 16, 2012 In Site Updates by Bnewell | 3 | Jun 12, 2012 by Troutnut |
Re: i have qustoins In Gomphidae Dragonfly Nymph by Davisbugg | 2 | Mar 26, 2007 by Martinlf |
Re: Legs for Jason In Fishing Reports by Martinlf | 4 | Feb 8, 2021 by Troutnut |
Re: Related Baetis Topic In General Discussion by Lastchance | 1 | Feb 4, 2012 by PaulRoberts |
Re: Dragonflys Grindstone Lake Wisconsin In the Identify This! Board by Dave_K | 10 | Apr 26, 2012 by Dejackson |
Re: Potomac White Fly Hatch - in progress In the Mayfly Genus Ephoron by BrettB | 1 | Sep 21, 2008 by GONZO |
Re: Dubbing In Fly Tying by Flytyerinpa | 3 | Oct 26, 2016 by Flytyerinpa |