Dragonflies

Distribution

Habitats

The following habitats are found across the Dragonflies distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.

• Bog
• Lakes and ponds
• Marsh
• Rivers and streams
• Swamp
• Wetlands

Behaviours

Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.

• Carnivorous
• Adapted to flying
• Metamorphosis
• Egg layer
• Polygynandrous
• Predator
• Visual communication

Fossil types

Learn more about the other animals and plants that also form these fossils.

Amber
Amber owes its existence to the defence mechanisms of certain kinds of tree. When the bark is punctured or infected, a sticky resin oozes out to seal the damage and sterilise the area.

About

A dragonfly is a double winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera (from Greek ανισος anisos, "uneven" + πτερος pteros, "wings", due the hindwing being broader than the forewing). It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body. Dragonflies are similar to damselflies, but the adults can be differentiated by the fact that the wings of most dragonflies are held away from, and perpendicular to, the body when at rest. Dragonflies possess six legs (like any other insect), but most of them cannot walk well. Dragonflies are some of the fastest insects in the world.

Dragonflies are valuable predators that eat mosquitoes, and other small insects like flies, bees, ants, wasps, and very rarely butterflies. They are usually found around marshes, lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic. Some 5680 different species of dragonflies are known in the world today.

Read more at Wikipedia