You can often find insects in streams, especially under rocks.
Here are 5 tips to help you find insects the next time you go outside. Insects are fascinating creatures that are all around us and easy to find. Continue reading
An Ant is a common insect that can be found throughout the world.
Every insect in the world has 4 common characteristics. These traits are what make an insect an insect and not a spider, mammal, or bird. Continue reading
Do you have any centipedes around your house?
It can be lots of fun to catch bugs with this simple pitfall trap. Observing bugs is fun, will help you learn about their behavior, and will get you more acquainted with the natural world. Continue reading
Is this a dragonfly or damselfly?
Can you tell if if an insect is a dragonfly or damselfly? Here are 4 simple tricks to help you tell apart these two similar looking insects. Continue reading
Have you seen any of these dragonfly nymphs?
Aquatic insects are all of those little bugs that you find in rivers, lakes, and ponds. Here are 6 common aquatic insects that you are likely to see in the Rocky Mountains. Continue reading
This water strider spreads out its legs so that it can ‘float’ on the surface of the water.
A water strider is a common aquatic bug of the Rocky Mountains and many parts of the world. These 7 water strider facts will help you understand this tiny animal. Continue reading
That is a lot of mosquitoes! Once in Wyoming we aborted our camping trip because there were too many to handle…definitely type 4 fun.
The tiny mosquito can have a huge impact on any outdoor experience you have. Here are 7 mosquito facts, such as why they bite and where they live. Continue reading
A ladybug is one of the common insects of the Rocky Mountains.
The common insects of the Rocky Mountains include a large variety of creatures. Here are 10 common insects you are likely to see when you explore the Rockies. Continue reading
This is a beautiful butterfly…or is it?
If you see a tiny winged insect do you know if it’s a butterfly or moth? Butterflies and moths have a number of similarities and differences. Here are a five simple ways that you can tell a butterfly or moth apart. Continue reading
Look at those wings…cool.
Here are 5 dragonfly facts that will reveal to you how truly special these flying invertebrates (insects) are. This common bug of the Rocky Mountains possesses some unique skills.
I love seeing dragonflies flying around whenever I am up in the mountains. Sometimes I see them skimming along the shoreline as I am at a lake fishing or skipping rocks. Other times I notice them in unusual places that are far from water. I find them mesmerizing as they zoom around through the air. I hope that after you read these facts you will truly appreciate what special flyers they are.
5 Dragonfly FactsThis is an aquatic insect similar to a mayfly or caddisfly. This means that it lives part of its life underwater as a nymph or larva and then part of its life as a winged insect. Just to remind you – this happens because it undergoes metamorphosis.
The number one, coolest thing about a dragonfly has to be how it flies. This winged insect has two sets of wings that can operate independently of each other. This structure means that it can fly in any direction it chooses. It can fly forwards, backwards, up, down, or any which way! It is able to stop and change direction in midair.
This bug not only looks cool, but it is a tremendous predator. When you see a dragonfly flying all around the air it is doing that for a reason. It is looking for and eating food. It catches and eats other bugs while flying in the air. They eat a lot of mosquitoes, black flies, and other small insects.
Look at those giant compound eyes.
Dragonflies have compound eyes. These eyes help them to see and pick up motion, which is important for them since they are trying to catch and eat flying insects. In fact, dragonflies compound eyes are huge for their head and are made up of an enormous number of ‘tiny eyes’.
Interesting fact – dragonflies make up one of two major groups within the order of dragonflies within the class of insects. The other major group within this order is damselflies. They look very similar, but are different. You can read this other post to remind you about how life is ordered to clarify the class, and order.