Emily is a passionate nature writer who enjoys exploring the fascinating world of insects. She shares clear, easy-to-read guides to help people understand and appreciate these tiny creatures. Common Hawkers are swift and powerful in flight, often patrolling large areas of open water and occasionally venturing over land. Metallic Pennants often perch upright on plant tips and occasionally hover briefly before darting off after prey.

Eastern Pondhawks exhibit sexual dimorphism and have an average length of 1.5 to 2 inches. Males have bright blue bodies, while females and juveniles are green. Water can be forcibly expelled in this way, resulting in jet propulsion as a means of escape. As the larva grows, it molts, its future wings first becoming apparent about halfway through the larva’s development. Eventually, the larva crawls out of the water (often at night) and molts one last time, emerging as an adult and leaving behind a cast skin (exuvia). In 2021 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released the first global assessment of dragonflies as an update to their Red List of Threatened Species.

Dragonflies and humans

Roseate Skimmers are territorial and often seen perched on sticks or tall grasses near the water. Males display their color and flight patterns to ward off rivals and attract females. This species prefers marshes, ponds, and lakes with still or slow-flowing water, often in open sunny areas. They patrol open areas, often capturing mosquitoes, flies, and other small insects mid-air.

Originating from Scandinavia, these types of dragonflies are seen in many parts of Northern Europe and North America. They are typically found in acidic water bodies with abundant floating vegetation. Northern Emeralds are slender-bodied dragonflies with bright emerald green eyes and a bronze or dark brown body. The males of the species are larger than the females, measuring up to 2 inches in length, and have a club-shaped abdomen and terminal appendages. Female Sanddragons, on the other hand, have a cylindrical abdomen and lack claspers. They live near ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow-moving streams, where they hunt for insects.

Its appearance is striking, with green eyes, a metallic green body, and yellow stripes on its thorax and abdomen. They are relatively large dragonflies, with a body length of up to 2.5 inches and a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches. In 2009, the first comprehensive assessment of insect species showed that 10 percent of dragonfly species were under threat of extinction. The animals are imperiled by destruction of freshwater habitats—particularly ponds, bogs, and fens—by pollution, and non-native vegetation.

Widespread globally, they are primarily found near rivers and streams, as well as occasionally around lakes and near water-filled ditches. They measure between 1.2 to 1.6 inches, which puts them in the medium-sized bracket of dragonfly species. Growing up to three inches long, darners contain some of the biggest dragonflies in North America.

The male and female contort themselves into the “wheel” position before sperm is transferred. Before and after mating, dragonflies often fly in tandem, with the male towing the female in flight using claspers at the tip of his abdomen to grip the back of her head. Pairs of some species may remain in tandem while the female lays her eggs. The Globe Skimmer has a pale brown body and transparent wings, with adults occasionally developing a golden shade.

Types of Dragonflies: Species, Facts and Photos

Both males and females have a yellow and black striped thorax and a mainly black abdomen with yellow rings. Blue Dashers prefer calm waters or slow-moving streams with vegetation, such as marshes, ponds, and lakes. The Azure Hawker (Aeshna caerulea) is a northern species with vivid blue markings, mostly found in subarctic and alpine habitats. The Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta) is a sleek, dark dragonfly commonly seen across the eastern United States. It’s often mistaken for other species due to its uniform bluish-black coloring, especially among males.

  • They are symbols of courage, strength, and happiness in Japan, but seen as sinister in European folklore.
  • When they land, the female curls her abdomen under to meet his secondary genitalia, forming a “mating wheel” that can resemble the shape of a heart.
  • Females have a less vibrant shade than males and a unique protruded lower lip that males don’t.
  • Flame Skimmers often perch on exposed branches or rocks, basking in the sun before swiftly catching prey.

Northern Emerald (Somatochlora arctica)

Their shape, metabolism, and respiration differ concordantly with the microhabitat they occupy. Dragonflies are predatory insects, both in their aquatic nymphal stage (also dragonfly doji known as « naiads ») and as adults. They have a uniquely complex mode of reproduction involving indirect insemination, delayed fertilisation, and sperm competition. Around midsummer, females hover over bodies of fresh water and dip in their abdomens, laying eggs that hatch in about seven to eight days.

They prefer still or slow-moving waters such as lakes, ponds, canals, and ditches, often with plenty of floating vegetation. Eastern Pondhawks are fierce predators, catching insects both in the air and on vegetation. They favor ponds, lakes, marshes, and quiet backwaters with lots of aquatic plants.

Dragonflies are important to their environments both as predators (particularly of mosquitos) and as prey to birds and fish. Because these insects require stable oxygen levels and clean water, scientists consider them reliable bioindicators of the health of an ecosystem. It is named after Halloween due to its unique wing pattern and behavior. The dark bands on its wings give it an eerie look, and it has an unusual habit of perching atop plants and grasses and swaying with the wind. These emerald dragonflies typically inhabit wetland habitats, such as fens and sedge meadows, where water flows slowly. The Eastern Pondhawk is a species of dragonfly commonly found in the eastern and central United States.

Brown Hawker

Despite its name, it can be difficult to spot because of its ability to hide in sand or mud. The Black Saddlebags dragonfly is a type of skimmer dragonfly found in the aquatic environments of North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Asia. She prefers cooler climates, while the Common Sanddragon is home in the sand near streams and rivers.

  • Blue Dashers prefer calm waters or slow-moving streams with vegetation, such as marshes, ponds, and lakes.
  • However, each species has its distinct preference for the environment they inhabit.
  • Growing up to three inches long, darners contain some of the biggest dragonflies in North America.

American Emerald (Cordulia shurtleffii)

The Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) is one of Europe’s largest and most powerful dragonflies, known for its brilliant colors and strong flight. Widow Skimmers prefer calm, shallow waters with abundant aquatic plants and open sunlit areas. Twelve-spotted Skimmers often perch on tall reeds or branches, surveying their territory and flying in short bursts to catch insects. These dragonflies are active hunters, often perching on stems or twigs near water, ready to dart after prey. When he finds a receptive female, he grasps her behind her head with claspers at the tip of his abdomen, and the two fly off together. Around 7,000 species of true dragonflies are alive today, and, together with the closely related damselflies, they form the group Odonta, which goes back 325 million years.

Known for their vibrant colors, swift flight, and impressive hunting skills, they have captured human curiosity for centuries. With around 5,000 species found worldwide, dragonflies come in an incredible variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Each species has its own unique features that make it stand out, whether it’s the bright blue body of the Blue Dasher or the striking yellow rings of the Golden-ringed Dragonfly. Nymphs propel themselves quickly by sucking water into their abdomen and then spitting it out.

Residing mainly in the northern parts of North America, their habitat ranges from ponds and bogs to slow-flowing streams surrounded by dense forests. Primarily found in the eastern United States, their preferred habitat is shallow, oligotrophic streams and rivers where the water flow is slow to moderate. The Cherry-faced Meadowhawk has a vibrant cherry-red face and thorax that males develop as they age. Females and young males have a unique yellowish-brown hue with black triangular spots. Male Black Saddlebags are black, while the females and young males have a lighter yellow-brown hue.

Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis)

This dragonfly has a bright green face with black markings, hence the name. They often patrol the edges of water bodies and occasionally rest in shaded areas like trees or shrubs. The Common Hawker (Aeshna juncea) is a strong-flying dragonfly that is widely distributed across northern Europe, Asia, and parts of North America. The Banded Pennant (Celithemis fasciata) is a striking dragonfly with distinctively banded wings, common in the eastern United States. Yellow-winged Darters often perch low on vegetation or the ground, launching quick flights to hunt. They are active hunters, often flying low over the water surface to catch prey and resting frequently on open ground or rocks.

Living on every continent but Antarctica, these insects are instantly recognizable by their large bodies; four long, horizontal wings; and the way they hover and zip around. Dragonflies can reach speeds of up to 35 miles an hour and fly just as gracefully backward by lifting off vertically, helicopter style. Their compound eyes are so large they nearly touch, and each one has about 28,000 single eyes, or ommatidia. Regarding habitat, these types of dragonflies prefer temporary water bodies and are often seen in rice fields and other agricultural areas.

Moreover, this darner dragonfly can migrate hundreds of miles yearly, which is impressive for any insect. Most species live in tropical areas, near ponds, rivers, marshes, and beaches; dragonfly nymphs are aquatic. However, each species has its distinct preference for the environment they inhabit.