Dragonfly Anatomy
Below is the external anatomy of an adult Dragonfly.
Below is the external anatomy of a Dragonfly Larvae
- Abdomen – The segmented tail-like section of the body.
- Antennae – A pair of sensory organs on top of the head.
- Cercus – The outer pair of anal appendages on anisopteran larvae.
- Costa – Major vein running along the leading edge of the wings.
- Epiproct – The middle anal appendage on anisopteran larvae.
- Femur – The first segment of the leg.
- Frons – The most prominent part of the face in anisopteran dragonflies.
- Lateral spine – Spine on the side of anisopteran larvae.
- Pterostigma – A colored, chitinous patch on the outer region of each wing.
- Tarsus – The three segments and a claw on the end of the leg.
- Thorax – The segment of the body between the head and the abdomen.
- Tibia – The second section of the leg.
- Wing node – A notch halfway along the leading edge of the wing.
- Wing sheath – A protective case for the wings.
Check out our guide on different Dragonfly Species here!