bugs

5 Dragonfly Facts – Including What Special Flyers They Are!

/ Mark Danenhauer
dragonfly facts

Look at those wings…cool.

Here are 5 dragonfly facts that will reveal to you how truly special these flying invertebrates (insects) are.  This common bug of the Rocky Mountains possesses some unique skills.

I love seeing dragonflies flying around whenever I am up in the mountains.  Sometimes I see them skimming along the shoreline as I am at a lake fishing or skipping rocks.  Other times I notice them in unusual places that are far from water.  I find them mesmerizing as they zoom around through the air.  I hope that after you read these facts you will truly appreciate what special flyers they are.

dragonfly facts5 Dragonfly Facts

This is an aquatic insect similar to a mayfly or caddisfly.  This means that it lives part of its life underwater as a nymph or larva and then part of its life as a winged insect.  Just to remind you – this happens because it undergoes metamorphosis.

The number one, coolest thing about a dragonfly has to be how it flies.  This winged insect has two sets of wings that can operate independently of each other.  This structure means that it can fly in any direction it chooses.  It can fly forwards, backwards, up, down, or any which way!  It is able to stop and change direction in midair.

This bug not only looks cool, but it is a tremendous predator.  When you see a dragonfly flying all around the air it is doing that for a reason.  It is looking for and eating food.  It catches and eats other bugs while flying in the air.  They eat a lot of mosquitoes, black flies, and other small insects.

dragonfly facts

Look at those giant compound eyes.

Dragonflies have compound eyes.  These eyes help them to see and pick up motion, which is important for them since they are trying to catch and eat flying insects.  In fact, dragonflies compound eyes are huge for their head and are made up of an enormous number of ‘tiny eyes’.

Interesting fact – dragonflies make up one of two major groups within the order of dragonflies within the class of insects.  The other major group within this order is damselflies.  They look very similar, but are different.  You can read this other post to remind you about how life is ordered to clarify the class, and order.