Dragonflies are pretty incredible insects! They have eyesight much better than humans – their compound eyes have over 30,000 facets, allowing them to see in almost every direction simultaneously. They can also see ultraviolet light that is not visible to people.
They are spectacular in flight – dragonflies can fly in any direction and maneuver exceptionally quickly in the air, making them efficient predators. They often eat flies and mosquitoes, and larger species have been known to eat swallowtail butterflies! The dragonhunter is one unique species known to prey on other dragonflies.
Dragonflies range in size from the fragile forktail (less than an inch long) to the swamp darner, up to 3.5 inches long.
They spend much of their lives in a juvenile stage. Adult dragonflies may only live for a few weeks or months and exist primarily to reproduce. Dragonflies hatch from eggs into highly predatory, aquatic larvae, also known as nymphs. In some species, larvae may take up to four years to reach the point of transforming into an adult.
Learn more in our Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ohio Field Guide: http://ow.ly/9ygY30pbRdh