Unlike damselflies, the front and rear wing pairs are shaped differently. In addition, dragonflies rest with their wings spread horizontally, rather than held vertically against each other (with the exception of one very small family, Epiophlebiidae). Dragonflies have a more powerful build and are generally much stronger fliers than damselflies. Dragonflies also have huge bulging eyes that occupy most of the head, giving some a field of vision approaching 360 degrees. Dragonflies are among the most fascinating insects in the natural world.
Common Sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus)
Banded Pennants are calm flyers and often glide above open water or perch on exposed stems. The Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) is a beautiful dragonfly that looks like a small, colorful flag fluttering in the wind. They are strong flyers and rarely perch, often seen gliding effortlessly over open fields and roads. The Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) is one of the most widespread dragonflies globally, known for its impressive migratory behavior.
Eastern Pondhawks exhibit sexual dimorphism and have an average length of 1.5 to 2 inches. Males have bright blue bodies, while females and juveniles are green. Water can be forcibly expelled in this way, resulting in jet propulsion as a means of escape.
Known for their vibrant colors, swift flight, and impressive hunting skills, they have captured human curiosity for centuries. With around 5,000 species found worldwide, dragonflies come in an incredible variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Each species has its own unique features that make it stand out, whether it’s the bright blue dragonfly candlestick body of the Blue Dasher or the striking yellow rings of the Golden-ringed Dragonfly. Nymphs propel themselves quickly by sucking water into their abdomen and then spitting it out. They undergo between six and 15 molts before emerging as fully formed adult dragonflies, a process that takes about 12 hours.
Identify Insects & Safety Tips
Growing up to three inches long, darners contain some of the biggest dragonflies in North America. Dragonflies belong to the suborder2 Anisoptera within the larger order Odonata. Recent numbers say there are 2,967 recorded species of dragonflies existing worldwide.
Common Whitetail
Adults live only about a month, hunting flies, mosquitos, and midges. Their arms slant upward, forming a type of basket and enabling them to scoop up prey in flight. Dr. Clarence Hine discovered Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly, hence its name. Its appearance is striking, with green eyes, a metallic green body, and yellow stripes on its thorax and abdomen.
Whether delicately perched on a cattail or hovering over a pond, dragonflies are a sure sign of summer. As their name suggests, this type of dragonfly bags the record for the longest-distance insect flyer. The Black Saddlebags dragonfly is a type of skimmer dragonfly found in the aquatic environments of North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Asia. She prefers cooler climates, while the Common Sanddragon is home in the sand near streams and rivers. Dragonflies are represented in human culture on artefacts such as pottery, rock paintings, statues, and Art Nouveau jewellery.
- These late-season fliers remain active even as the seasons shift and cooler temperatures set in.
- They frequently perch on rocks, sticks, or bare ground, darting out quickly to catch flying insects.
- They submerge themselves in the waters of marshes, slow-moving streams, or vegetation-rich ponds, where they hunt other aquatic creatures.
- The winged adults are diversely colored in a variety of shades ranging from metallic to pastel.
- They are known for their relaxed, gliding flight and often perch prominently on stems or reeds.
American Emerald (Cordulia shurtleffii)
- Northern Emeralds are slender-bodied dragonflies with bright emerald green eyes and a bronze or dark brown body.
- Dragonfly, (suborder Anisoptera), any of a group of roughly 3,000 species of aerial predatory insects most commonly found near freshwater habitats throughout most of the world.
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature now considers this dragonfly vulnerable to extinction.
They are one of the most widespread dragonfly species seen around the world1. Male Globe Skimmers have a row of cells on the hind wing known as secondary genitalia, which females lack. The Crimson Marsh Glider is a dragonfly species living in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The males of the species have red bodies, while the females and young ones have a yellow-brown color. These types of dragonflies are sedentary; most of their life cycle happens in the larval stage, lasting up to two years. They submerge themselves in the waters of marshes, slow-moving streams, or vegetation-rich ponds, where they hunt other aquatic creatures.
The dark bands on its wings give it an eerie look, and it has an unusual habit of perching atop plants and grasses and swaying with the wind. The Cherry-faced Meadowhawk has a vibrant cherry-red face and thorax that males develop as they age. Females and young males have a unique yellowish-brown hue with black triangular spots. Male Black Saddlebags are black, while the females and young males have a lighter yellow-brown hue. American Emeralds dart and hover in the air when they finally emerge as adult dragonflies.
It prefers calm freshwater habitats like ponds, lakes, and marshes with lots of emergent vegetation. Blue Dashers prefer still or slow-moving freshwater bodies like ponds, lakes, and marshy areas with abundant vegetation. Common Green Darners are typically found around freshwater habitats such as ponds, marshes, lakes, and slow-moving rivers.
These late-season fliers remain active even as the seasons shift and cooler temperatures set in. Exploring the various types of dragonflies can offer insights beyond their physical appearance. These insects play a significant role in our ecosystems and possess unique features.
Flight speed
Slaty Skimmers are usually found in still or slow-moving waters like lakes, ponds, and marshy areas with plenty of shoreline vegetation. Common Whitetails are found near ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers, often favoring areas with open water and scattered vegetation. It thrives in marshes, ponds, lakes, and slow streams, particularly those with plenty of reeds and vegetation. Emperor Dragonflies are found around lakes, large ponds, and slow rivers, often hunting over open water. They frequently perch on rocks, sticks, or bare ground, darting out quickly to catch flying insects.
The males have white patches on their wings and blue-white bodies, while females and immature males have an earthy brown color with a yellow stripe on each side of their abdomen. Dragonflies are agile fliers, while damselflies have a weaker, fluttery flight. Dragonflies make use of motion camouflage when attacking prey or rivals. Males have a blue hue on their abdomens that contrasts with their green bodies, while females have a more subtle green coloration. Moreover, this darner dragonfly can migrate hundreds of miles yearly, which is impressive for any insect.
Dragonflies and humans
Red-veined Darters are highly active fliers, often seen basking on bare ground or stones in sunny areas. They are aggressive predators, spending much of their time on the wing patrolling large territories. The Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) is a vibrant dragonfly found across Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia, known for its intense red color.
Disproportionately large, the mask folds beneath both the head and thorax when it is not in use. At the end of the mask is a set of fanglike pincers used to seize prey such as mosquito larvae, worms, crustaceans, tadpoles, and small fish. Different species of dragonfly larvae can be described as sprawlers, burrowers, hiders, or claspers. Their shape, metabolism, and respiration differ concordantly with the microhabitat they occupy. Dragonflies are predatory insects, both in their aquatic nymphal stage (also known as “naiads”) and as adults.