This lab document provides an overview of the paleopteran insect order Odonata (damselflies and dragonflies). It describes the key characteristics and adaptations of Odonata, including their large eyes, strong chewing mouthparts, long legs adapted for catching prey. It divides Odonata into two suborders: Anisoptera (dragonflies) and Zygoptera (damselflies), noting structural differences like wing shape. Diagrams are included of dragonfly and damselfly larvae. References for further information are listed at the end.

1. University of Sulaimania
School of Science
Department of Biology
2nd Class Year
16th Lab.
Pterygotes-Paleopteran Insects:
Order Odonata
Lecturer: Farhad A. Khudhur

2. Objectives:
•This lab. Provides familiarities with Paleopteran insects
Damselflies and Dragonflies.
• Students will study old winged insect order, Odonata, in
detail.
Scientific content:
-Order: Odonata (Damselflies and Dragonflies)
- Suborder: Anisoptera
- Suborder: Zygoptera

3. Order: Odonata
• Odonata are paleopterous, exopterygote
aquatic insects, related to the Ephemeroptera
Dragonfly adults are predaceous, relatively
long-lived insects.
• Their large compound eyes, strong chewing
mouthparts, long legs, and unparalleled flight
capabilities are ideal adaptations for catching
and consuming insect prey.
• The larvae are aquatic and are usually much
longer lived.

4. • The order Odonata is characterized by
- chewing mouthparts,
- large compound eyes, three ocelli,
- small setaceous antennae,
- a small prothorax,
- the meso- and metathoracic segments fused
into a large pterothorax,
- long legs with three-segmented tarsi,
- two pairs of elongate wings,
- elongate abdomen,
- accessory male genitalia including the
intromittent organ on the venter of the
second abdominal segment.

5. Suborder Zygoptera (Damselflies)
• Damselflies are characterized by the following
structural features:
- fore and hind wings almost identical in
shape and venation,
- wing holding is vertically upward at rest,
- eyes far apart, and
- larvae with three (rarely two) caudal
lamellae (Caudal Gills).

6. Suborder Anisoptera (Dragonflies)
• Dragonflies are characterized by the following
structural features:
- fore and hind wings dissimilar in shape and
venation,
- wing holding is horizontally outspread at rest,
- eyes adjacent or nearly so; and
- larvae stout and without caudal lamellae,

9. Dragonfly Larva

10. References:
•David, B. V. and Ananthakrishnan, T. N. (2004). General and Applied
Entomology. 2nd ed. Tata McGraw-hill Publishing Co. Ltd. New Delhi.
India. 1184 p.
•Elzinga, Richard J. (1997). Fundamentals of Entomology. 4th ed.
New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, Inc. 475 pp.
•Gillot, Cedric. (2005). Entomology. 3rd ed. Springer, Dordrecht. The
Netherlands. 831 pp.
•Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia, 2nd edition. Volume 3, Insects,
edited by Michael Hutchins, Arthur V. Evans, Rosser W. Garrison,
•Resh, Vincent H. & Cardé, Ring T. (2003). Encyclopedia of Insects.
USA. Academic Press, Elsevier Science, 1266 pp.