What is the latin name for a dragonfly?

Question

I am doing some poetry work, the poem is "How To Paint A Water Lily" by Ted Hughes.

I have been working on it for over 2 hours, it has a huge amount of symbolism. There is no online help with the poem, but I found lots of symbolism myself.

There is a reference to latin names, maybe related to the symbology of the dragonfly as god of the pond.

I have had a look, but can't find the latin name for a dragonfly.

Is there a latin name for the dragonfly? If not what else in a pond has a latin name apart from the plantss?

Answer 1

Dragonflies are in the Order Odonata, and the Suborder Anisoptera (which means 'unequal wing').

Within the dragonflies, there are several families and numerous genera, such as:

Aeshnidae (darners):  Aeshna, Anax, Hemianax, Rhioaeschna, Telephlebia, Boyeria

Petaluridae (petal wings): Tachyopteryx (which means "rapid wings")

Gomphidae (club tails): Gomphus, Arigomphus

Cordulegastridae (spike tails):  Cordulegaster

Corduliidae (emeralds):  Epitheca, Neurocordulia

Libellulidae (skimmers):  Brachymesia, Celithemis, Erythrodiplax

Within each genera there are also numerous species.

Answer 2

It is known as a caballito del diablo .

Answer 3

All dragonflies belong to the the scientific order (Latin) Odonata which means "toothed ones".  Scientific names probably won't help here. IMO, try Water Lily = woman.  Latin names may refer to sexual parts.  Dangers/violence may mean emotional (pond,water) entrapment and/or torture; Paint = description.

Answer 4

There are lots of latin names for dragonflies because each species has its own.  They are in the order Odonata.  If you'd like to look at the families and their respective genera and species, you can click on the links to the families on the wikipedia page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonfly