Dragonfly

Dragonflies make up the suborder Anisoptera within the order Odonata, one of the oldest living insect lineages, with ancestors dating back more than 300 million years. They are found on every continent except Antarctica.

The group is notable for exceptional flight agility, including the ability to hover, fly backward, and change direction rapidly, made possible by two independently controlled pairs of wings. Aquatic larvae, called naiads, are important predators within freshwater ecosystems, feeding on other invertebrates and small aquatic animals.

As both formidable predators and prey, dragonflies occupy a significant position in freshwater and terrestrial food webs.

• Long, slender body, often brightly colored in blues, greens, reds, or browns
• Two pairs of clear or patterned wings of similar size, held outstretched, perpendicular to the body at rest
• Enormous compound eyes that typically meet or nearly meet at the top of the head
• Short, bristle-like antennae; strong spiny legs used for catching prey rather than walking
• Body length roughly 2–3 in, with wingspans up to about 5 in in larger species; distinguished from damselflies by the thicker body, larger touching eyes, and wings held open (not folded) at rest

Found worldwide except in the most extreme polar regions. Closely tied to freshwater habitats, including ponds, lakes, slow streams, and marshes, where larvae develop. Adults range farther from water to hunt and are most active on warm, sunny days from spring through fall.

Adults are highly skilled aerial predators, catching mosquitoes, flies, and other small flying insects on the wing using their legs as a basket. Capable of hovering, flying backward, and reaching high speeds. Aquatic larvae are voracious predators of other aquatic invertebrates and occasionally small fish or tadpoles. Males of many species defend territories over water. Plays an important ecological role as both predator and prey in freshwater and terrestrial food webs.

Incomplete metamorphosis with no pupal stage. Eggs are laid in or near water. Aquatic larvae (naiads) live underwater for months to several years depending on species, feeding and molting through numerous instars. Mature larvae climb out of the water and molt into winged adults, which typically live for several weeks to a few months.