8 Fascinating Dragonfly Facts You Should Know
Updated: Jun. 21, 2023
From how many species of dragonflies exist in the world to the unique way they breathe, discover all you need to know about dragonflies.
Amazing Dragonfly Facts
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 beneficial insects.
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Dragonflies Fly Faster Than You Think
While they might be letting the breeze carry them when you spot one, dragonflies can move pretty quickly when they need to. Two pairs of transparent wings propel them forward as fast as 35 miles per hour.
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Dragonfly vs Damselfly
You can tell the difference between a dragonfly and a damselfly by looking at their wings. Dragonfly wings point away from the bodies when at rest.
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Dragonflies Are Always Seeing the Sights
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
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
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
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
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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Originally Published: June 21, 2023
