In most cases, the males attract the females, so the males are the more colorful, showy individuals. In general, the more brightly colored males are healthier and better able to produce strong offspring with a high chance of survival, so females will choose mates that are brightly colored over less colorful males.
As an example, consider peacocks. Peacock males are VERY showy with their long, elegant tails while the female peahens are much less colorful and have much shorter tails. Peacocks with the biggest, baddest tails get all the girls while the less showy males have to settle for leftovers sometimes younger or less healthy females or simply cheat their way into getting a mate.
Other animals that show dimorphisms are deer and elk. Again, the males are trying to attract the females and are willing to fight other males for them. Elk or deer with big racks are generally better able to successfully fight other males. As in birds, the buck with the biggest rack is likely healthier than the bucks with smaller racks — they have to be getting enough food and other resources to grow those antlers in the first place. The doe chooses her mate from the available males and usually selects the one that is best able to win fights, the one with the best antlers.
So, some elk and deer have horns the males and others do not the females. They are also sexually dimorphic. Like in birds, elk, and deer, it is the role of the male dragonflies to attract female dragonflies if they wish to produce offspring. Thus, male dragonflies are often much more brightly colored than the females and many species are sexually dimorphic. Take, for example, the blue dashers, or Pachydiplax longipennis.
Blue dashers are very common mid-sized dragonflies across a big section of the United States, including Arizona. The males are easy to identify based on their bright green eyes and the bluish coloration of their bodies. The abdomen is covered in a waxy substance, or prunescence , which can give them a bit of the whitish look you see in the male pictured here. They sit and guard their territories from their perches, waiting for females to come into their areas so they can mate.
In contrast, the females are known to spend a much greater part of their time away from water and only come to the water to mate and lay eggs. I found this female sitting on a tree branch far from the water:.
Blue dasher Pachydiplax longipennis female. Can you see how different the female looks compared to the male? The males are a whitish bluish color while the females are largely black!
It is believed that the primary purpose dragonfly wing colors is for mating. However, the scientists have now found that sex is not the only factor in wing color. The difference in pigments is important because, depending on the color, wings can increase in heat up to two degrees celsius, explained Moore.
As expected, the study authors found that dragonflies found in warmer locations tend to have less pigment on their wings, while those in cooler climates tend to have more. This seems to be an adaptation that keeps dragonflies from overheating. The study also revealed that in warmer years, dragonflies tended to have less wing color than those photographed on cooler years.
Interestingly, female dragonfly wings do not change colors as much in response to temperature as those of males. In addition, the orange dragonfly reminds you to go with your gut. The fast and agile dragonfly is not about mulling over decisions. Yellow dragonflies are often juvenile males. In addition, there are dragonflies that have yellow stripes , including the black petaltail, the spiketail, and the river cruiser.
Yellow symbolizes happiness, optimism, intellect, and honor. Your yellow chakra is called Manipura in Sanskrit, and it governs your solar plexus. It represents your will and how you assert yourself in the world.
The energy of the yellow dragonfly is one of youthful exuberance. If you see a yellow dragonfly, tap into your inner youthful vitality. It exists! In addition, the yellow dragonfly calls on you to consider how you can use your wits, your intellect, and willpower to exert positive change in your life and the lives of others.
There are forces at work in the Universe. However, at the same time, we have been blessed with free will. How do you tap into your higher power so you can better use your will to bring more happiness to yourself and the world? Yellow is also akin to the power of light.
The yellow dragonfly reminds you that you are a light worker. You are here to honor God, or your higher power, with the greatest expression of yourself.
No matter how difficult, painful, or frustrating life can get, the yellow dragonfly reminds you that you are here to do good work on Earth. Dragonflies that are green include the darner , the pondhawk, and other species. Green symbolizes nature, renewal, growth, fertility, and emotions. It also symbolizes financial abundance and security. This is a color of trust; hence you will notice a lot of financial institutions use green in their logos.
Your green chakra is your heart chakra, or Anahata in Sanskrit. As your fourth chakra, Anahata governs your chest, including your heart, lungs, and respiratory and circulatory systems.
This chakra also affects your heartfelt emotions and relationships. If you see a green dragonfly, it may be time for a new relationship to come into your life. Like so many other things in life, with nurturing, relationships can grow and evolve. This dragonfly reminds you to come from a place of heart and make sure you are nourishing your relationships in a healthy way.
As the dragonfly is a symbol of transformation and rebirth, consider the areas of your life that are related to your heart chakra that you would like to expand and improve, such as your relationships, your respiratory and circulatory systems, and your finances. Species of dragonflies that are blue include the blue emperor dragonfly, the blue dasher , and others.
It also symbolizes trust, faith, and wisdom. Blue, or turquoise, symbolizes the fifth chakra. It is Vishuddha in Sanskrit. Your fifth chakra rules your ability to connect, communicate, and express yourself. If you see a blue dragonfly, think about the messages that you are putting into the world.
Even without speaking, you are constantly communicating to others. This may be in how you carry yourself, what you post on social media, whether you greet people with warmth or judgement, or even with your silence.
The blue dragonfly asks you if you are being authentic. Are you presenting yourself and are you communicating in a way that reflects the truth of who you are and the highest version of who you were meant to be? Some blue dragonflies are indigo in hue. Seeing a darker blue dragonfly can also be a sign to tune up your sixth chakra, which you can read about next. Dragonflies that are purple include the roseate skimmer and the purple skimmer.
Purple is special in the way it combines the warm hues of red with the cool hues of blue. Striking this balance and creating something beautiful from this dichotomy is why purple symbolizes peace.
Purple also symbolizes nobility, wealth, aspiration, and devotion. Both your sixth and seventh chakras are shades of purple. Your sixth chakra is indigo and your seventh is violet, though some may interpret it as white. The sixth chakra, or Ajna , rules your mind and your third eye, or intuition.
Your seventh chakra, Sahasrara , is at the crown of your head, and it governs your super-conscious. If you see a purple dragonfly, you are being called upon to tap into your higher power.
Let your mind connect to this source through prayer or mediation. The purple dragonfly is an exalted symbol, one that asks you to seek out something greater than yourself. You have within you the capability to tap into a higher power and evolves. Your angels are standing by, waiting for you to reach out and ask for their help. The purple dragonfly reminds you that there is more out there, and you are capable of tapping into it. Dragonflies that have brown hues include the brown hawker Aeshna grandis , the swamp darner Epiaeschna heros , and the striped saddlebags Tramea calverti.
As a warm hue, brown is reminiscent of wood, soil, and the Earth. Thus, it symbolizes Earthiness, groundedness, security, and stability. As is the case with brown butterflies , the brown dragonfly reminds you to ground yourself and get back to basics.
Honor that which is real in your life, that which truly gives you a solid foundation from which to blossom. Seeing a brown dragonfly can also mean your home needs some attention. They look pretty similar and are often called odonates. Brilliant, iridescent colors and interesting hovering flying style have made dragonflies and damselflies popular insects for years. Some countries, such as Japan, represent the dragonfly in their art and culture. But more importantly, these insects help tell us about the health of an ecosystem.
Their young can be affected by any changes in water flow and water pollution. More dragonflies in an area may indicate a healthier water ecosystem. One thing you notice right away about dragonflies and damselflies is their wonderful array of colors. Dragonflies come in all sorts of colors like yellow, red, brown, and blue; sometimes the wings have brown spots and bands. Male damselflies typically have iridescent wings and some type of colorful blue, green, or purple body, while the females usually have a golden brown color, even on their wings.
Dragonflies generally have a thicker and shorter body than damselflies, which are slim. Both have large compound eyes. Their compound eyes have up to 30, lenses, providing them with excellent vision. Talk about having one of the best pairs of glasses! Damselflies have legs in front of their body for grasping prey. Dragonflies have strong, biting mouthparts to eat with.
Both dragonflies and damselflies have two pairs of wings. These wings are thin and sheer, with small veins that crisscross to add strength. Dragonflies can beat their wings together or individually. Like a helicopter, this lets them turn in mid-air, hover, and fly backward. Some dragonflies can even reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour 30 kilometers per hour. Damselflies, on the other hand or wing!
0コメント