FaunaHub

Dragonfly

InsectPredatorInvertebrate

A bright red scarlet skimmer dragonfly perched on a stem.

Scarlet skimmer dragonfly (Crocothemis servilia).

Image: Laitche, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Dragonflies are fast-flying predatory insects of the infraorder Anisoptera, within the order Odonata. There are thousands of species worldwide. This page is a group-level overview; a scarlet skimmer is shown as a familiar reference. Adults are agile aerial hunters with two pairs of large, independently moving wings and very large eyes, and the young (larvae) develop underwater.

Habitat & Range

Dragonflies are strongly associated with fresh water, because their larvae live in ponds, lakes, streams, marshes, and other wetlands. Adults are often seen near water but may range more widely to feed. They occur on every continent except Antarctica, and the presence of a healthy dragonfly community is often taken as a sign of good water quality. Specific habitat needs vary by species.

Diet

Dragonflies are predators at every active stage. Adults catch other flying insects — including mosquitoes, flies, and midges — on the wing, and are considered highly effective aerial hunters. The aquatic larvae are also voracious predators, taking aquatic invertebrates and sometimes small fish or tadpoles. This makes dragonflies useful natural controllers of insect populations.

Behavior

Adult dragonflies are exceptional fliers, able to hover, change direction sharply, and even fly backwards, using their two pairs of wings independently. Many are territorial, especially males patrolling stretches of water. The life cycle runs from egg to aquatic larva (which may live underwater for months or years) to winged adult; unlike butterflies, dragonflies do not form a pupa. Behaviour varies between species.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Dragonflies are generally regarded as beneficial because they prey on biting insects and serve as indicators of wetland health. They do not sting and are harmless to people. Some species are sensitive to the loss or pollution of wetlands, so habitat protection matters for them. Conservation status varies by species and should be checked against current sources rather than assumed.

Appearance & Recognition

Dragonflies have a long, often brightly coloured body, two pairs of strong, net-veined wings, and very large compound eyes that may cover much of the head. At rest, most dragonflies hold their wings out flat to the sides. Their close relatives, the damselflies, are typically smaller and more slender and usually fold their wings along the body at rest — a handy way to tell the two apart.

Similar Animals

Dragonflies share the order Odonata with damselflies, which are slimmer and hold their wings closed at rest. Both are unrelated to the butterfly covered separately on FaunaHub, despite all being flying insects. Some other insects, such as antlions and lacewings, have net-veined wings but belong to different orders.

More photos of the dragonfly

A scarlet percher dragonfly resting on a twig.

A scarlet percher dragonfly.

Image: John Tann, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Dragonfly

What is the difference between a dragonfly and a damselfly?
Both belong to the order Odonata. Dragonflies are generally larger and stronger fliers and rest with their wings spread flat, while damselflies are slimmer and usually fold their wings along the body at rest. Their eyes also differ — dragonfly eyes are large and often meet on top of the head.
Do dragonflies bite or sting people?
Dragonflies do not sting and are harmless to people. They are predators of other insects, including mosquitoes and flies, which makes them beneficial to have around wetlands and gardens.
Where do baby dragonflies live?
Dragonfly larvae are aquatic, living in ponds, streams, and other fresh water where they hunt small aquatic animals. They can spend months or even years underwater before emerging and transforming into winged adults.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.