Odonata

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/odonata

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Odonata
2. What are dragonflies and damselflies?Dragonflies and damselflies are insects with clear wings that fly very fast. They are called nature's tiny, speedy superheroes because they can hover, accelerate quickly, and even fly backwards.
3. Why are they called Odonata?The name Odonata comes from the Greek word "odous," meaning tooth. It refers to their strong, toothed mandibles that help them catch prey.

Odonata: The insect order comprising dragonflies and damselflies, characterized by their ancient evolutionary history and predatory adaptations.
Hemimetabolous Metamorphosis: Incomplete metamorphosis where young nymphs resemble adults and develop through gradual molting without a pupal stage.
Nymph (Larva): The aquatic, immature stage of Odonata, possessing specialized predatory structures like an extendable labium.
Eclosion: The emergence of the adult insect from its final nymphal exoskeleton, a critical transition phase.