All About Dragonflies - Dragonfly Facts & Information

What is a Dragonfly?

Belonging to the order Odonata and characterised by large eyes, two pairs or strong wings and a long, slender abdomen, Dragonflies are a wonderful insect that are typically found around wetlands.

Dragonflies are agile in flight and are great predators - feeding successfully on smaller insects like flies and mosquitoes. Dragonfly populations are beneficial to ecosystems as they help control insect populations. Dragonflies are often admired for their striking colours and intricate wing patterns, making them popular subjects in art and photography.

The Difference Between Dragonfly and Damselfly Species

Although they both Dragonflies and Damselflies belong to the Odonata family, there are some key differences between these species.

Usually, Dragonflies have stout bodies with a wide abdomen, compared to Damselflies, like the Blue Tailed Damselfly, who have slender bodies and a smaller abdomen.

When resting, Dragonflies will hold their wings perpendicular to their bodies but if you spot them, Damselflies, like the Common Blue Damselfly, hold their wings along their body. Dragonflies, generally, are also stronger fliers and can fly for much greater distances that Damselflies, who will often be found hovering or perching near water.

One of the most recognisable features of the Dragonfly is their larger eyes that nearly meat at the top of the head (which gives them a wraparound appearance). Damselflies have smaller eyes that are separated to each side of their head.

Dragonfly Wings

A fascinating part of their body, Dragonflies wings allow them to be agile and really great fliers. But what is it that makes them so special?

Dragonfly wings are transparent, allowing light to pass through them. This transparency aids in camouflage and makes them difficult for predators to detect when in flight.

The wings of dragonflies have a network of veins that provide support and structure. These veins also serve as channels for the flow of hemolymph, the insect equivalent of blood, which helps to distribute nutrients and oxygen.

Dragonfly wings are both stiff and flexible, providing stability during flight while also allowing for maneuverability. The stiffness of the wings helps to maintain their shape and withstand the forces generated by the insect's rapid movements.

Dragonflies are capable of incredible agility and speed in flight, with some species capable of reaching speeds of up to 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour). Their wings beat asynchronously, meaning that each wing moves independently of the other, allowing for precise control and maneuvering.

Most Common Dragonfly Species UK

1. Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum): As the name suggests, this species is widespread and often seen around ponds, lakes, and slow flowing rivers. They are known for their reddish-brown colouration.

2. Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa): This species is characterised by its broad, flattened abdomen and is commonly found near still or slow-moving water bodies like ponds and lakes.

3. Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator): This is one of the largest dragonflies in the UK. It has striking blue and green coloration and is often found near ponds, lakes, and canals.

4. Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea): This species is known for its bright green and pale blue markings. It's commonly found around ponds, lakes, and slow-flowing rivers.

5. Common Hawker (Aeshna juncea): Another widespread species in the UK, the common hawker is known for its brown and yellow markings. It can often be seen patrolling lakes and ponds.

6. Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta): This species is smaller than the common hawker and is characterised by its distinctive yellow and black markings. It's often seen near water bodies and gardens.

7. Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum): This dragonfly species is known for its distinctive black abdomen with a white stripe along the top. It can often be found around ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers.

Dragonfly Lifespan

Adult dragonflies live really short lives - in fact, typically, they won't survive longer than a week or two. In some cases, they can live up to eight weeks. This relatively brief adult lifespan contrasts sharply with their much longer aquatic nymph stage, which can last for several years, depending on the species.

What Do Dragonflies Eat?

Dragonflies are voracious predators in both their nymph and adult stages. Their diet varies slightly between the nymph and adult stages, but they predominantly feed on other insects.

In their Nymph stage, Dragonflies are mainly carnivores and they feed on a variety of aquatic species such as insect larvae, small fish and tadpoles. They are highly efficient hunters and use their extendable jaws to catch prey.

The Adult dragonfly is an aerial hunter. They primarily feed on flying insects such as mosquitoes, flies, midges, and other small flying insects. They are known for their incredible agility and speed in capturing prey mid-flight. Some larger species of dragonflies may also consume butterflies, moths, and even smaller dragonflies.

The Wetland Habitats of Dragonflies

Dragonflies inhabit a wide range of habitats, both aquatic and terrestrial, throughout the world. In the UK specifically, dragonflies can be found in diverse habitats due to the country's varied landscape.

During their nymph stage, Dragonflies spend a significant amount of their lives in the water. Preferring slow moving or still water bodies such as ponds and lakes to lay their eggs and where their nymphs can survive and thrive.

Different species of dragonflies prefer flowing water habitats like rivers and streams. These habitats offer suitable conditions for both nymphs and adults, with ample prey and vegetation for perching.

Wetlands, including marshes, bogs, and fens, provide ideal breeding grounds for many species of dragonflies. These habitats offer a mix of open water, emergent vegetation, and muddy areas, which support diverse aquatic life.

Adult dragonflies are often seen patrolling over grasslands and meadows in search of prey and suitable breeding sites. These open habitats provide ample opportunities for hunting and mating.

Some species of dragonflies inhabit woodland edges, particularly those with clearings, streams, or ponds. These habitats offer a mix of sunlight and shade, as well as diverse waterside vegetation types, which can attract different prey species.

In coastal regions, dragonflies can be found near freshwater habitats such as ponds, marshes, and streams, as well as in coastal dunes and wetlands.

Dragonfly Breeding

Adult female dragonflies will lay their eggs in or near water bodies by hovering over the water surface or dipping their abdomen into the water whilst in flight.

Once laid, the eggs hatch into aquatic nymphs. These creatures live underwater and undergo a series of changes as they grow. They feed on a variety or aquatic organisms.

Lasting anywhere between several months to several years, depending on the species, Dragonfly nymphs go through several changes before they reach maturity.

Once fully developed, the nymph will molt one final time and emerge from the water as a fully grown dragonfly. This will usually occur during warm weather (so in the spring or summer!)

After emerging from the water, the adult dragonfly undergoes a period of maturation. During this time, its exoskeleton hardens, its wings expand and dry, and its colors become more vibrant.

Once mature, adult dragonflies begin the mating process. Males are often observed patrolling territories and performing elaborate flight displays to attract females. After mating, the female will seek out suitable breeding sites to lay her eggs, thus completing the life cycle.

The Life Cycle of a Dragonfly

The life cycle begins when a female dragonfly lays her eggs, usually in or near water. She may deposit the eggs directly into the water or attach them to vegetation or other objects above the water's surface.

After a period of time, the eggs hatch, and the larvae, known as nymphs or naiads, emerge. Nymphs are aquatic and live in freshwater habitats such as ponds, lakes, streams, and marshes. They have elongated bodies, six legs, and extendable jaws used for capturing prey.

Once the nymph has completed its development, it undergoes its final molt and emerges from the water as an adult dragonfly. This emergence typically occurs during warm weather, often in spring or summer.

The newly emerged adult dragonfly is initially soft and vulnerable, with crumpled wings. It climbs onto vegetation or other objects to allow its wings to expand and dry properly.

Upon completing its maturation process, the adult dragonfly takes flight. Adult dragonflies have long, slender bodies, large compound eyes, and two pairs of wings.

The primary activities of adult dragonflies include feeding, mating, and laying eggs. They are powerful and agile fliers, capable of capturing prey mid-flight using their specialized legs and jaws.

Adult dragonflies typically live for a relatively short period, ranging from a few days to a few weeks, with some species living up to a couple of months.

Five Facts about Dragonflies

1. Dragonflies are ancient insects that have been around for hundreds of millions of years, with fossils dating back over 300 million years. They are among the oldest insect groups on Earth and have remained relatively unchanged in their basic body plan since the time of the dinosaurs.

2. Dragonflies are incredibly agile and skilled fliers. They can fly in all six directions—upward, downward, forward, backward, and side to side—and can hover in place for extended periods. Their exceptional flying abilities make them efficient predators, capable of capturing prey mid-flight with precision.

3. Dragonflies have some of the most remarkable eyesight in the insect world. Their large compound eyes contain thousands of individual facets, known as ommatidia, which provide them with a 360-degree field of vision. They have excellent color vision and can detect movement with incredible accuracy, helping them locate and capture prey.

4. Both as nymphs and adults, dragonflies are voracious predators. Nymphs hunt aquatic prey such as mosquito larvae and small fish using their extendable jaws, while adults prey on flying insects like mosquitoes, flies, and midges. They play a vital role in controlling insect populations and are considered beneficial to ecosystems.

5. Dragonflies undergo incomplete metamorphosis, meaning they do not have a pupal stage like some other insects. Instead, they progress through three main stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The nymphs are aquatic and undergo several molts before emerging from the water as fully formed adult dragonflies. The transformation from aquatic nymph to aerial adult is one of nature's marvels.