8 Things You Never Knew About Dragonflies

8. They Can Be Admired in Sanctuaries Around the World

Dragonfly resting in a child's hand
 

Dragonflies need protection from the dangers humans have created, from pollution to habitat loss, and sanctuaries help with this. The U.K. got its first dragonfly sanctuary, the Dragonfly Center, in 2009. U.S.-based dragonfly enthusiasts can also admire them at the Dragonfly Sanctuary Pond in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This is the first sanctuary pond in the country and home to an amazing diversity of dragonfly and damselfly species. Another famous one is the Shimanto Dragonfly Park in Japan.

Save the Dragonflies

  • Help conserve wetlands. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the destruction of wetlands is a major driver of declines in dragonfly populations worldwide. 5
  • Create a dragonfly garden.
  • Donate to the Dragonfly Society of the Americas, whose mission is to advance the discovery, conservation, and knowledge of dragonflies. You can also consider becoming a member.

Frequently Asked Questions
  • Do dragonflies bite or sting?

    Dragonflies don’t have stingers. They do have sharp mandibles, but they’re not usually sharp enough to cut through human skin. Besides, dragonflies are not aggressive and have no reason to attack a human besides self-defense.

  • How did dragonflies get their name?

    Historically, the shape of the dragonfly’s body freaked people out enough to associate them with the devil. The Romanians used the same word, “drac,” for both “devil” and “dragon,” and so it’s believed that the word “devil’s fly” became “dragonfly” somewhere along the line of its English translation.

  • Where do dragonflies live?

    Dragonflies occur on every continent except Antarctica and are most common around water.

  • How big can dragonflies get?

    The largest dragonfly species is the giant darner (Anax walsinghami), whose body length and wingspan can both reach five inches. These can be found in Central America and the U.S. Southwest.

Dragonflies

  1. Dragonflies are ancient insects that have existed for around 300 million years, allowing them to develop exceptional flying and hunting abilities.
  2. They have sharp mandibles that can tear prey apart midair and consume it without landing.
  3. Dragonflies possess remarkable flying skills, including the ability to fly backward and hover.
  4. These insects have nearly 360-degree vision due to their compound eyes with 30,000 facets.