Dragonfly Nymph (Naiad)
Scientific Name: Infraorder Anisoptera
Order & Family: Order: Odonata; Family: Varies (e.g., Aeshnidae, Libellulidae)
Size: 10 mm to 50 mm (0.4 to 2 inches) depending on species and developmental stage.
Natural Habitat
Freshwater environments including ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow-moving streams; often found in benthic zones or submerged vegetation.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; they eat aquatic insects, mosquito larvae, tadpoles, and even small fish using a specialized extendable lower lip (labium).
Behavior Patterns
They are ambush predators that live underwater for months to years. They breathe through internal gills in their rectum and can propel themselves forward by rapidly ejecting water.
Risks & Benefits
Highly beneficial to the ecosystem as they control mosquito populations. They are harmless to humans, though larger nymphs can deliver a small, non-venomous nip if handled roughly.
Identified on: 4/12/2026