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The Fascinating World of Thunderflies: Natural Wonders You Should Know About

The thunderfly is a small but powerful creature found in wetlands and marshes around the world. Its mesmerizing electric blue color and ability to produce a loud ‘buzzing’ sound when flying make it a truly remarkable animal. Despite their size, thunderflies are incredibly resilient, able to survive in a variety of climates and environments. They also play an important role in the natural food web, as they are a vital source of food for a number of other species. In this article, we will explore the fascinating world of thunderflies, from their behavior to their impact on the environment. By the end, you’ll have a much better understanding of these remarkable creatures and why they should be appreciated and protected. So read on to discover the many wonders of the thunderfly!

 

 

What are Thunderflies?

Thunderflies are small insects that belong to the order of Odonata. They are also known as blue darners, and are related to dragonflies. While these two insects look similar, their lifestyles are quite different. Dragonflies are typically larger and commonly found near water, whereas thunderflies are smaller and prefer to live in marshes and wetlands. While both species use their wings to produce sound, thunderflies also have special organs called ‘cracking plates’ that amplify the sound. This enables them to produce a very distinctive loud ‘buzzing’ sound when flying. The species of thunderfly found in North America is known as the common blue darner. It is a small insect with dark blue wings, a thorax with blue and black stripes, and a black abdomen. It is particularly common in the southeastern United States, where it can be found throughout the year. The European common blue darner is a similar species, except it is smaller and has a larger blue patch on the wings.

 

Thunderfly Behavior

Like all insects, thunderflies undergo a complete metamorphosis. This means that they have a three-stage life cycle that begins with an egg, then a larval and pupal stage, and finally an insect. There are four stages in the life cycle of the common blue darner. This includes the egg, larval stage, pupal stage, and lastly the stage. Eggs – The first stage in the life cycle is the egg stage, which lasts one to two weeks. The female blue darner will lay her eggs on the stems of water plants and weeds, including cattails and bulrushes. Larvae – The next stage is the larval stage, which lasts three to five weeks. As larvae, blue darners have fully developed bodies with three pairs of legs and two pairs of wings. They feed on a wide variety of foods, but are particularly fond of small snails, aquatic insects, and other small aquatic organisms. Pupae – The pupal stage lasts three weeks, and marks the transformation from larva to insect. The transformation begins when the larvae swim to the surface of the water, attach themselves to a reed or other plant, and molt one last time. This is when they transform into the stage. – The final stage in the life cycle is the stage, which lasts one to two weeks. At this point, the blue darners are sexually mature, and are ready to mate.

 

Thunderfly Habita

Darner larvae create underwater dwellings from pieces of plants, gravel, and sand. They use the aquatic plants as a base, then add the gravel for a soft surface for their bodies, and the sand for a hard surface for their eggs. The larvae live in these underwater dwellings until they are ready to transform into . blue darners prefer to live in marshes and wetlands, where they can find plenty of food. Native to the southeastern United States, blue darners are found throughout the year. They can also be found in Europe and Asia, as well as some parts of Africa and Australia. Thunderflies

 

Thunderfly Colors

Blue darners are named for their electric blue color, which varies between individuals. The blue color is created by pigments in the insects’ wings, called ‘cyanine’ and ‘phycoerythrin’. These pigments protect the blue darners from the sun, as well as making them look larger to predators. Blue darners also have black and yellow stripes on their thorax, and a black abdomen. The blue darners’ wings are even more colorful than their bodies, with a blue-green sheen. This is caused by the way that light reflects off of their wings. The blue darners also have a ‘retro-reflection’, which makes the blue on their wings appear even brighter. This is caused by the blue light being reflected back towards the source of the light.

 

Thunderfly Sounds

Like many other species of insect, blue darners use sound to communicate with each other. They create a buzzing sound by beating their wings, and use this sound to attract mates and frighten away predators. Blue darners also have specialized organs called ‘cracking plates’ that produce a loud cracking sound when the insect flexes its legs. This unique feature gives the insects their name, and is used to frighten away predators. Blue darners are particularly vocal at night, when they can be heard from a long distance away. The insects can create a long, continuous sound that lasts for several minutes. This is a mating call, produced by the male insects, which can be heard from up to a quarter of a mile away. The females do not make sounds, but can be heard when they brush their wings together. This is used to attract mates, as well as a sign of aggression.

 

Thunderfly Impact on the Environment

Darner larvae are an important part of the food chain, as they feed on small snails and aquatic insects. In turn, they are a source of food for other species, such as fish and waterfowl. The blue darners feed on insects such as mosquitoes, flies, and mayflies. They also eat small amphibians, such as frogs and newts, and small reptiles, such as lizards. Blue darners are extremely helpful to humans, as they eat many of the insects that can spread diseases, such as mosquitoes. In fact, blue darners eat more mosquitoes than any other species of insect, making them a vital part of the ecosystem.

 

Thunderfly Reproduction

Blue darners are sexually mature at the end of their larval stage, when they have fully developed bodies, wings, and two pairs of legs. At this point, they are ready to mate, and will gather around bodies of water near their larvae dwellings. The insects use their wings to beat loudly, and mate above the water. The female blue darner lays her eggs on the stems of water plants and weeds, including cattails and bulrushes. The eggs are small and green, and resemble tiny sprigs. The larvae eat the eggs once they hatch, meaning that the eggs are not suitable for human consumption. Blue darners mate in the summer and autumn months, as this is when the water is warm enough for the eggs to hatch. They are very particular about the water temperature, and will not mate if the water is too cold. The mating season begins in early July and lasts until early October. Blue darners select their mates based on the length of their abdomens. The female blue darners can mate with up to five different partners.

 

Conclusion

The blue darners are a fascinating species of insect that are found in wetlands around the world. They have a very distinctive blue color, and can produce a buzzing sound when flying. Although they are smaller than dragonflies, blue darners are very powerful predators that feed on mosquitoes, frogs, and other species. Blue darners have a three-stage life cycle that begins with an egg, followed by the larval and pupal stages, and finally the insect. During the stage, blue darners are ready to mate, and use their wings to create loud buzzing sounds. Blue darners are very important to the ecosystems they inhabit, as they act as a source of food for other species and eat mosquitoes, which can spread diseases.

This article is provided by https://www.goodgardn.co.uk/blogs/thunder-flies

https://www.goodgardn.co.uk/blogs/thunder-flies