Dragonfly Facts
A dragonfly is a predatory flying insect of the suborder Anisoptera, with huge compound eyes, two pairs of strong clear wings and a long body.
- Class
- Insect
About the dragonfly
About 3,000 living dragonfly species are known, most of them tropical. Many shine with iridescent or metallic colors produced by the structure of their surface, which makes them easy to spot in flight. Each compound eye packs nearly 24,000 ommatidia. Dragonflies are often mixed up with damselflies, but most dragonflies hold their wings flat and out from the body at rest, while damselflies fold theirs along or above the abdomen.
They hunt at every stage. Nymphs, also called naiads, are aquatic predators, and in some species that stage lasts up to five years. Adults are fast, accurate fliers that ambush prey in midair, use motion camouflage when attacking, often stay near water and sometimes migrate across oceans. Most adults live about five weeks or less, a few only days, and some up to 10 weeks.
Did you know?
- Disappearing wetlands put dragonflies at risk around the world.
- Damselflies, the dragonfly's close relatives, have a weaker, fluttery flight.
- Dragonfly mating involves indirect insemination, delayed fertilization and sperm competition.
Questions about the dragonfly
How long do dragonflies live?
Most adults live five weeks or less, some only days and a few up to 10 weeks, though the aquatic nymph stage can last up to five years in some species.
What is the difference between a dragonfly and a damselfly?
Dragonflies rest with wings flat and spread, while damselflies fold their wings along or above the abdomen.
Sources
- Wikidata Q80066, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Dragonfly, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.