Recently on a collecting trip with the Missouri Department of Conservation in north-central in the Fabius River system, we brought back some dragonfly nymphs unlike any I have ever seen before. I saw adults that are likely of same species but have not seen them either. The nymphs when agitated by handling moved their front legs rapidly in a manner that looks almost like stridulating. Visual cue did not seem all that strong but they put a lot of energy into it. Terrestrial insects doing similar usually produce some sounds with it.
DRAGONFLY NYMPHS PRODUCING SOUND?
Started by
Guest_centrarchid_*
, Sep 26 2013 09:28 AM
12 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_daveneely_*
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Posted 26 September 2013 - 09:56 AM
Could very well be. I assume you're rearing them up to see what they turn into?
#3
Guest_centrarchid_*
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Posted 26 September 2013 - 10:14 AM
I will attempt to rear them although I do not have a "dragonfly thumb". I am pretty confident the adults where present at time of collection but males only where noted with a white abdomen and wings that appeared quite short as if made for flying through heavy cover. Any suggestions on care protocol for nymphs?
#4
Guest_daveneely_*
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Posted 26 September 2013 - 10:39 AM
White abdomen... maybe either Libellula lydia or L. luctosa? Can't think of any others... Feed an abundance of small live inverts. Be warned that it might be a couple years. As good as your fish thumb is, I can't believe that dragonflies will be an issue 
#5
Guest_centrarchid_*
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Posted 26 September 2013 - 10:55 AM
Libellula lydia and L. luctosa are very similar to what occurs locally but their wings are too long relative to the unknown. Abdomen of specimens observed did not have the fluorescent blue of the suggested species. If anything, a slightly fluorescent pink or orange was involved within the base white. We will be collecting nymphs of our local version for a field day shortly, then they can be compared to those in question.
Knowing how to raise certain types of fish does not always lend itself to husbandry of other fishes, insects and macrophytes. I am setup in mind and resources for tightly controlled rearing but that only works when you know a given organisms requirements.
I will setup a jungle tank which will violate our bio-security rules.
Knowing how to raise certain types of fish does not always lend itself to husbandry of other fishes, insects and macrophytes. I am setup in mind and resources for tightly controlled rearing but that only works when you know a given organisms requirements.
I will setup a jungle tank which will violate our bio-security rules.
#6
Guest_centrarchid_*
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Posted 27 September 2013 - 06:14 AM
Image of dragonfly nymph in question IIma
#7
Guest_daveneely_*
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Posted 27 September 2013 - 06:40 AM
Spectacular little animal! I'm not sure what it is, it will be very interesting to grow it out. I'll ask a couple friends that do more of this than I do if they have any helpful hints at husbandry...
#8
Guest_gerald_*
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Posted 27 September 2013 - 03:02 PM
That looks more like Gomphus or Progomphus, not Libellula. The leg twitching is probably an effort to burrow into the sand, and if there's no sand they just keep trying. Drop one on sand and watch what happens.
#9
Guest_centrarchid_*
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Posted 27 September 2013 - 03:30 PM
Progomphus looks much more like nymphs collected. I will give the sand experiment a try. Twitching was not associated with forward movement and often involved only on limb. I did not see adult looking like either Gomphus or Progomphus but that does not mean they were not coming in only in the evening and early morning like some species are prone to do. The adult Libellula looking animals were outside my experience but the nymphs may well be similar to relatives occurring locally.
#10
Guest_Kanus_*
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Posted 27 September 2013 - 08:16 PM
I'll second the fact that whenever I find these, I usually do so by following a trail in the sand until I can dig the little bugger out. They like nice clean quartz sand from what I've seen, and are often 1 cm or so under the surface. No help on ID though, sorry.
#11
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Posted 30 September 2013 - 10:42 AM
Collection site at time of collection lacked sand in pools where animals were found. Picture a very warm pool with about 30 head of black angus cows standing in belly deep greenish gray water as they tried to stay cool. Imagine the organic scents. Just imagine ...........
#12
Guest_daveneely_*
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Posted 30 September 2013 - 08:30 PM
Picture a very warm pool with about 30 head of black angus cows standing in belly deep greenish gray water as they tried to stay cool.
That sounds like the Fabius that I remember!
#13
Guest_Auban_*
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Posted 05 October 2013 - 03:12 AM
looks like Progomphus obscurus to me.
yeah, i got a thing for water bugs...
they are easy to keep(sort of). they will sit in a tank just fine, and can often handle nasty water, but they eat a LOT. my biggest trouble with dragonfly larvae was always keeping them fed.
they will eat just about anything that moves though.
yeah, i got a thing for water bugs...
they are easy to keep(sort of). they will sit in a tank just fine, and can often handle nasty water, but they eat a LOT. my biggest trouble with dragonfly larvae was always keeping them fed.
they will eat just about anything that moves though.
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