Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata)
| Life history | Dragonflies and damselflies can spend from a few weeks to 5 or 6 years as larvae in the water. |
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| Diversity | There are about 14 different families in North America. |
| Distinguishing characteristics |
This group has visible wing pads, their mouth is covered by an extensible "mask" (they use this to capture prey), they have 3 pairs of segmented legs, there are no gills along the side of the body, but some kinds have gills at the end of the body. |
| Habitat & Feeding | Dragonfly and damselfly larvae live in lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands and they are predators. |
| Water quality indicator status | Some species are rare and live in unique habitats and have been listed on threatened and endangered lists. The presence of some types of dragonflies or damselflies may indicate that water quality is good and that the ecosystem has not been disturbed. |
| Fun facts |
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