Dragonfly

Scientific Name: Infraorder Anisoptera

Order & Family: Order Odonata, multiple families (e.g., Libellulidae, Aeshnidae)

Size: 2 cm to 15 cm in wingspan, depending on the species.

Dragonfly

Natural Habitat

Found near freshwater sources like ponds, lakes, rivers, and wetlands; often seen in open fields or gardens.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivorous; adults hunt flying insects like mosquitoes, flies, and midges in mid-air. Nymphs (larvae) eat aquatic invertebrates and small tadpoles.

Behavior Patterns

Exceptional fliers capable of hovering and flying backwards; often seen swarming in humid conditions or before a storm. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis with an aquatic larval stage.

Risks & Benefits

Extremely beneficial to ecosystems and humans because they consume large quantities of pest insects like mosquitoes. They do not sting and generally do not bite humans unless handled.

Identified on: 3/15/2026