Odonata

Odonata

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Hexapoda
Order:	Odonata

Suborders

Anisoptera (dragonflies)

Zygoptera (damselflies)

Anisozygoptera

Reference: ITIS 101593
as of 2002-07-26

Odonata (commonly known as dragonflies and damselflies) are insects with large round heads covered mostly by eyes, legs designed for catching prey in flight, two pairs of wings that can move independently, and long tails. Males have an organ at the back of their thorax which they use for storing sperm; they mate with the male holding the female's neck with the tip of his tail, and the female bending her tail forward to touch this organ. Some very large specimens have been found in fossils.