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How do dragonfly larvae use jet propulsion to escape danger?
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Odonata
Male jewelwing damselfly (Calopteryx splendens).
Dragonfly larvae, which belong to the suborder Anisoptera, utilize jet propulsion as an effective escape tactic when threatened.1
This method of locomotion is made possible by the unique structure of their respiratory system. Unlike damselfly larvae, which have external gills, dragonfly larvae possess internal tracheal gills located within the rectum. Under normal conditions, these larvae ventilate their gills by rhythmically pumping water in and out through the anus. To escape danger, the larva forcefully expels this water from the rectal chamber, creating a jet of water that propels the insect forward.213