Blue-Eyed Darners are among the kinds of dragon flies seen along the Walla Walla River. The image at right is the adult stage.
Below is a dragon fly larva. The larva hatch and live in the water.
The Damsel Fly also starts life in the water. The larva's gills look like three leaves attached to the end of its tail. Adult Damsel Flies are similar to dragon flies.
The Salmon Fly larva (above) searches for food among the rocks underwater. It emerges from the water as an adult (right.)
Caddis Fly larva also dwell underwater. The larva builds a protective sheath of small pebbles it sticks together. Only the upper portion of the larva's body is visible. Locally, the larva are called Periwinkles.
The adult Caddis Fly emerges from the water. At rest, its wings are held over the length of it's body in the shape of a small tent, making it easy to identify.
Several species of butterflies inhabit the Walla Walla River environment. Pictured are the Admiral (above), the Swallowtail (right) and the Oregon Old World Swallowtail (bottom right.) The latter is Oregon's officially designated state insect. The two swallowtails have distinctly different wing patterns.
The Green Tail (right) is another dragon fly species found along the Walla Walla River. The tiny dead sapling on which the Green Tail sits has the remains of a gall (swollen section of the trunk.)
Several plants and trees are depicted throughout the mural. Visible in the image (left) are Bull Thistle, Bog Orchid and Horse Tail. The thistle is an introduced non-native specie; it originates from Eurasia.
