Main Characteristics of Dragonflies and Damselflies

• There are more than 6,400 species of dragonflies and damselflies.
• There are around 450-471 species in the USA.
• The most common dragonflies in the USA are the globe skimmer, common green darner, common whitetail, black saddlebag, blue dasher and the black-shouldered spinyleg.
• Dragonflies are robust and large, with their front pair of wings being bigger. Their wings are always spread open.
• Damselflies are a also kind of dragonfly.
• Damselflies have slender bodies and pairs of wings that are equal in size. When they rest, they fold their wings upwards.
• Dragonflies can move their wings independently, allowing them to change direction very quickly.
• Dragonflies can even fly backwards.
• Dragonflies are carnivorous.
• As larvae, they primarily feed on mosquito larvae, freshwater shrimp, and tadpoles.
• The adult insects mainly hunt small flying insects.
• Dragonflies spend the majority of their lives as larvae, and as adult dragonflies, they typically live for only 6 to 8 weeks.
• The largest dragonfly is the blue-winged helicopter (Megaloprepus caeruleata), which can reach a body length of up to 4.7 inches (12 cm) and a wingspan of up to 7.5 inches (19.1 cm).
• The smallest dragonfly is Agriocnemis nana, measuring 0.71 inches (18 mm) in body length and having a wingspan of 0.69 inches (17.6 mm).
• The largest known prehistoric insect was a dragonfly (Meganeura monyi) with a wingspan of 25.5 inches (70 cm).

Species List