6 Fascinating Dragonfly Facts You Should Know

Amazing Dragonfly Facts

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Dragonflies are a staple of summer. Their brightly colored bodies dot the warm breeze with all the colors of the rainbow; their stained-glass wings are marvelous to behold. But while you know when you’ve spotted a dragonfly, there’s plenty you might not know about these pretty mosquito-eaters. Here’s a collection of dragonfly facts to bulk up your knowledge about these good bugs.

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Dragonflies Fly Faster Than You Think

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While they might be letting the breeze carry them when you spot one, dragonflies can move pretty quickly when they need to. Their wings propel them forward as fast as 35 miles per hour.

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Dragonflies Are Always Seeing the Sights

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Dragonflies aren’t very big, so it takes some serious maneuvering to keep from flying into things. They use over 80% of their brain power to interpret what they see.

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Dragonflies Have Short Antennae for a Reason

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While some bugs have long antennae, dragonfly antennae are quite short. There’s a good reason for that — small antennae make it easy for them to get close and bite their prey. To grab larger prey and hold it in midair, dragonflies use their legs.

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Dragonflies Breathe in an Unusual Way

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This might be the most surprising of our dragonfly facts. You might think these bugs breathe with the same mouth they use to bite their prey…and you would be wrong. Instead of using their mouths, dragonflies breathe through holes in their abdomens.

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Dragonflies Are Ancient

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Dragonflies have been around a very, very long time. They are some of the oldest animals on the planet, with fossils dating back more than 300 million years.

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There Are Thousands of Types of Dragonflies

Courtesy Marina Neyman

Nearly 2,500 different types of dragonflies are found all over the world, in colors from purples to bronzes that often shimmer or look metallic. They lay their eggs and hunt around water, so consider installing a pond to attract them to your backyard.

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