Scientific Classification of the Dragonfly
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Anisoptera
The dragonfly is one of the worlds oldest insects. There were giant dragonflies around the time dinosaurs roamed the earth 300 million years ago. [2]
There are many different types of dragonflies around the world. There are currently 3012 known species of dragonfly. They appear on every continent except Antarctica. All dragonflies belong to the order Odonata, suborder Anisoptera. Pantala flavescens is the most widespread dragonfly species in the world.
Dragonflies have very unique characteristics, which make them very recognizable. They have large compound eyes, made of approximately 30,000 ommatidia. These special eyes allow them to sense movement. Dragonfly bodies are very elongated, and are supported by two pairs of very large, powerful wings. Their wings are transparent, and can sometimes have patches of color, depending on the species. Dragonfly wings are not jointed, and are capable of moving independently. Their wings allow them to fly in any and all directions. The wings have small pockets in them that catch wind. This may seem counterproductive, but it allows them to have a lot more control when flying at high speed, or when closing in on prey. [3]
The life cycle of a dragonfly is around 1 to 2 years. The majority of this time is spent as a dragonfly nymph, underwater. The adult dragonflies that you can see flying around only live for anywhere between 1 to 3 weeks. Adult dragonflies mate near pools of water. Once a male has found a mate, it transfers its sperm from the tip of its abdomen to its genitalia. The male then grabs and holds onto the female. The female then touches her abdomen to the males genitalia, transferring the sperm. This process can take anywhere from a couple seconds to a few hours, depending on the species. The female dragonfly then finds a stationary pool of freshwater to lay her eggs in. Flowing water, like in rivers or streams, are not ideal. In 2 to 5 weeks, the eggs hatch, and the dragonfly nymph is born. These dragonfly nymphs spend all of their time underwater. Dragonflies stay in their nymph forms for around 1 to 2 years, but can be more or less depending on the species. Once a nymph is fully grown, they begin to surface and breathe air. They do this for several days before climbing onto the stem of a plant. Once secure, they push their new body out of their old nymph skin. This process takes about one to three hours, depending on species. After becoming adult dragonflies, they take time learning to fly and how to hunt. As they get older, they will be able to fly further and leave their place of birth. [4]
Dragonflies are predators. As a nymph, they typically "feed on insect larvae, crustaceans, worms, snails, leeches, tadpoles, and small fish" [4]. They will eat any insect that they can catch, and consume insects of body weight each day. As an adult, most hunting is done mid-flight. Their incredibly powerful wings allow them to travel in any direction, or hover in place which is very useful while hunting. Dragonflies generally fly above a moving insect and scoop them up in their legs, like a basket. Some simply scoop up insects with their mouths. Either way, the insects are consumed alive. [5]