Dragonflies

Dragonflies

  Dragonflies are insects belonging to the order Odonata. They have two large compound eyes on a large head and two pairs of strong mostly transparent wings on a pod and boom body. Dragonflies can be found in the fossil record more than 300 million years ago. Dragonfly’s nymphs are aquatic found around almost any kind of water with other aquatic insects. Wetlands, ponds, lakes, and streams will have dragonflies except when winter is cold enough to ice over the water. Adult dragonflies are incredible fliers. They can consume prey and mate as they fly or hover in one place then move in any direction. Dragonflies are one of the fastest flying insects known.

  Female dragonflies lay eggs in water after mating then the eggs hatch into nymphs. A dragonfly spend most of it life underwater in its nymph form. In its aquatic world the nymphs will use their large extendable jaws to eat any small animal. They are voracious eaters of mosquito larvae that live in the same water. They also feed on small tadpoles and fish. If the nymph survives long enough it climbs above the water line and metamorphoses into a flying adult. Dragonflies are harmless to people. They are great insect predators. They help control populations of insects that are harmful to man like mosquitoes and wasps. Although dragonflies are highly successful predators they are also preyed upon by larger animals. The nymphs are eaten by water spiders and fish. Adult dragon flies are eaten by bigger predators like birds, frogs, and lizards.