Anax junius
Male
The upper lip, or labrum, is the top part of the face.
The lower lip, the labium or chin, is made up of three lobes.
The labrum and labium function together to capture and secure the prey.
The jaws, which work from side to side, are made up of upper mandibles and lower maxillae.
The jaws contain a series of incurved teeth for tearing the prey
The eyes are compound and contain nearly 30,000 individual lenses.
The head of a dragonfly can turn 360 degrees as well as above and below.
The two short bristly antennae are thought to function as windsocks or anemometers to measure wind speed and direction for determining flight patterns.
Fort Morgan
Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge
Coastal Alabama