Animal Profiles
Insects

Dragonfly

Odonata

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Dragonflies hunt both underwater and in the air. This account follows the common green darner (Anax junius), a strong-flying species familiar across North America.

Anax junius, the representative described in this account.

Anax junius, the representative described in this account.

Christina Butler from Georgia, United States · CC BY

At a glance

Location
Juveniles grow in ponds, lakes and slow streams.
Habitat
Rivers and lakes, Wetlands, Grassland
Diet
Carnivore
Food
Adults catch insects in flight.

Classification

Common name
Dragonfly
Browse group
Insects
Scientific name or taxon
Odonata
Taxon rank
order
Order
Odonata
Source classification
Insecta

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • Juveniles develop in freshwater.
  • Adults catch airborne insects.
  • Some populations migrate.

Habitat and range

Juveniles grow in ponds, lakes and slow streams. Adults forage over open land and near water; some populations travel long distances seasonally.

Appearance and adaptations

A green thorax supports four independently moving wings. Large eyes help the adult track prey, while aquatic juveniles possess an extendable lower lip for grabbing food.

Diet and behaviour

Adults catch insects in flight. Juveniles eat aquatic invertebrates and sometimes small vertebrates. The life cycle connects freshwater development with a mobile adult phase on land and in the air.

Sources

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