FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
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Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
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There are around 7000 species of dragonflies in the world and the common sanddragon is one of them. The scientific name for common sanddragon is Progomphus obscurus. The common sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) is a dragonfly that can be seen in streams, creeks, and small rivers flying over and around the water. They can also be spotted resting on rocks, boulders, branches, or logs. The common sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) is endemic to the eastern United States and also seen in nearby regions. The common sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) is commonly called a sanddragon as well.
The common sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) is primarily a carnivore and feeds on larvae and aquatic insects. They have an overall similar appearance to other dragonfly species. The common sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) is a small to medium-sized dragonfly and is capable of surviving in tropical to subtropical climates. During extreme hot climates, these dragonflies raise their abdomen straight into the air, helping them to cool off easily. The common sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) is most active during summer and fall seasons and not really active during the other seasons.
For more relatable content, check out the milkweed beetle and European paper wasp.
The common sanddragon is a dragonfly that belongs to the dragon taxonomy, to the kingdom Animalia, order Odonata, and family Gomphidae.
The common sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) is a type of dragonfly which belongs to class Insecta, family Gomphidae, and genus Progomphus.
The exact population size and range of sanddragons in the world is not known. The most commonly seen dragonfly in the world is the globe skimmer (Pantala flavescens).
The common sanddragon range is wetlands near streams, creaks, and other similar regions. This species is widely seen in various regions in the eastern United States, Canada, southern Ontario, and North America. They have fast flight patterns.
The common sanddragon habitat range constitutes streams, creaks, and small rivers where they can find food easily. They are seen resting on rocks, branches, and logs. They are capable of surviving in tropical and subtropical climates however, on extremely hot days, they need to raise their abdomen straight into the air which helps it to cool off. They survive best in their natural habitat.
Common sanddragons live by themselves as well as in groups called swarms. Dragonflies are excellent at controlling mosquito populations. The common sanddragon dragonfly coexists with other animals in the wild.
A common sanddragon lives only for a few weeks to five years. They are known to pretend to be dead in some instances in order to avoid being coerced into mating. It is assumed that dragonflies have existed as early as the Paleozoic period.
The breeding range of these dragonflies is usually on water surfaces including streams and rivers. Adult male and female common sanddragons are different in appearance with females having a slender dark abdomen while males have a slight bulge at the tip of their abdomen. Females who are ready to breed lay eggs along the surface of the moving water. Once the egg is laid, it develops into a young naiad. The juvenile then begins digging into the sand bottom of the stream. Its lives underwater until it develops wings after which it crawls onto the surface and becomes a fully mature adult. After this, they live outside water however, they come back to the surface of the water to feed on flying insects.
Progomphus obscurus or the common sanddragon is classified as a Least Concern species by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature (IUCN). They are not endangered and they can be seen in the United States, Canada, southern Ontario, and North America.
A common sand dragon is a dragonfly which has a yellow face with large eyes on either side of the face with varying colors depending on its surroundings. They have four transparent wings with a single black bar on the top edge near the wings' tip. They have slender bodies with females having a dark brown abdomen and males having a slight bulge at the tip of the abdomen and finally a yellow mark at the top of each abdominal segment, adding color to their tail.
Dragonflies are exotic beings and not ideally cute. They mostly reside in their habitat near water or wetlands and are seldom seen in other regions.
They utilize their green, blue, purple, and bronze hues to send messages to other insects. They don't usually use their voice in order to communicate. These color messages are used to warn off predatory birds.
The average common sanddragon size is 1.69-2.79 in (43-71 mm) in length which is 50 times bigger than parasitic wasps, also known as fairy flies, which measure 0.005 in (0.127 mm) length.
The exact flight speed of a common sanddragon is not known however dragonflies have an average flight speed of 22-34 mph (36-54 kph.). Their flight patterns may vary depending on what they are involved in such as catching prey or escaping from a predator.
The common sanddragon weight is not evaluated. The average dragonfly weighs 0.0002 lb (1000 mg).
Male and female dragonflies of this species are not addressed differently. Males and females are different in appearance. Females have a slender dark abdomen while males have a slight bulge at the tip of their abdomen. They also differ in reproductive functions.
Baby common sanddragons are called larvae, nymphs, and naiads. Nymphs develop by themselves without any assistance from parents.
Common sanddragons are a carnivorous species. They feed on larvae and aquatic insects. The naiads also feed on the matter available to them underwater. Predator species to these dragonflies include common kingfishers, falcons and spiders among other insectivorous species.
No, this species is not dangerous unless it is troubled in which case it is known to bite. However, they can't get through into the skin. This only happens if you hold them in your hand or try to provoke them.
They are both fun to raise as well as challenging. It is best to observe them in their natural habitat and from a distance. They need appropriate space for flying and resting which they can only find in their natural habitat. Their flight patterns are fast compared to other species of insects.
A new species of dragonfly named Gynacantha vargasi was discovered on the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica. This new species is a New World species.
Dragonflies are a cherished cuisine consumed by people in Indonesia. Certain Asian and other continents are known to consume cockroaches, worms and another insects as well.
A common myth surrounding insects is that most of them don't survive past 24 hours. In the case of a dragonfly, the lifecycle from an egg to death is about six months.
Common sanddragons lay around 1500 eggs, similar to other dragonfly species. The eggs take about a week to hatch and develop independently. They spawn multiple times throughout their life. Most of their life is spent as nymphs beneath the surface of the water. They have relatively short lifespans and try and avoid any danger from possible predators as much as they can.
They are commonly seen near rivers, streams, or creaks in regions including the eastern United States, Canada, southern Ontario, and North America. Spotting such species in regions other than the United States, southern Ontario and North America nearby regions is rare. They are similar to other dragonfly species as they vary slightly in coloration and pattern. They have four transparent wings with a single black bar on the top edge near the wings' tip. They have slender bodies with females having dark brown abdomen and males having a slight bulge at the tip of the abdomen and finally a yellow mark at the top of each abdominal segment adding color to their tail. They have a yellow face with large eyes on either side of the face with varying colors depending on their surrounding.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other animals from our mud dauber wasp facts and slipper lobster facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable common dragon coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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