Dragonfly Leg Under the Microscope
Dragonfly Leg (Whole Mount), Anisoptera
This is a dragonfly leg mounted whole. Dragonfly legs are built for grabbing prey and perching rather than walking, and the spines along them show that clearly.
This is a whole mount of a dragonfly leg (Anisoptera). The leg is made of long, jointed segments covered by a hard, amber-colored outer skeleton, the exoskeleton. Rows of stiff, pointed spines stick out along the segments, and a large curved claw at the end helps the dragonfly grip. Dragonflies use their legs mainly to perch and to catch other insects in the air, not to walk. They hold their spiny legs together like a basket to trap prey while flying.
What to look for
- Leg segments: Long, jointed sections of amber-colored exoskeleton.
- Spines: Rows of stiff, pointed spines along the leg segments.
- Tarsus: The small foot segments near the end of the leg.
- Tarsal claws: A pair of curved, dark claws at the tip for gripping.
Questions and answers
Why do dragonfly legs have spines?
Dragonflies catch other insects in the air. They hold their spiny legs together like a basket to trap prey, and the spines keep the prey from escaping.
Can dragonflies walk?
Dragonflies are poor walkers. Their legs are mostly used for perching and catching prey, while flying is how they get around.
- Category
- Invertebrates
- Scan magnification
- 20x
Viewing this slide in class
This is a scan of a real prepared slide, not a simulation or a drawing. On StudyScope you can pan from the whole slide down to individual structures, always in focus, and measure them in real micrometers with the calibrated ruler. Present it live and every student screen follows your view and annotations. Students join with a room code on Chromebooks, iPads, or any browser, with no accounts.