Insects get too much of a bad rep, which is the coolest one you know?

i know a couple but i'd say my absolute favourite is the dragonfly!

with some honourable mentions:
Hercules Beetle!

And my budies the jesus copied us bugs:
waterstriders

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ninalanyon · 61-69, T

Isn't the first one a damsel fly? The two pairs of wings are the same in damsel flies, different in dragon flies.

Beautiful picture anyway!

Ah, I see that some people call the whole Odonata order dragon flies. See https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/odonata/dragonflies-2/

Here is a Norfolk Hawker dragon fly

See https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/species/norfolk-hawker/

popmol · 22-25, M

@ninalanyon well i mean maybe i'm nto sure i always forget how to spot the difference, and also size makes a difference but hard to see in a picture!
i did search dragonflies!

ooh very cool looking :)

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@popmol Damsel flies perch with the wings folded along the body as in your picture and the two pairs of wings are almost identical. Dragon flies perch with the wings outstretched (I think) and the rear wings are bigger measured front to back and often a bit shorter. This is where the sub-order gets its name, Anisoptera (meaning “unequal-winged”). Also dragon flies have more obvious anal parts. And as you say dragonflies are usually a bigger.

The site I found the picture on is very nicely done too.

popmol · 22-25, M

@ninalanyon it was harder to see with the sideway picture but yes i went afterwards and checked and its indeed skinnier!

ooh yeah they were lovely pictures :)

Queendragonfly · 31-35, F

@ninalanyon [quote]Isn't the first one a damsel fly? The two pairs of wings are the same in damsel flies[/quote]

Correct. It's a picture of a blue damsel fly and they are a dragonfly breed.