Dragonflies are members of the ancient insect order Odonata, which has been present on Earth for hundreds of millions of years. These swift-flying insects are a common sight near freshwater bodies, ranging from slow-moving streams to large, open lakes. Their presence is an indicator of a healthy aquatic ecosystem, as they spend a significant portion of their lives in the water. The adult forms are known for their iridescent wings and remarkable aerial agility.
Adult Dragonflies Are Obligate Predators
Adult dragonflies are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet consists entirely of other animals. They do not consume fruit, nectar, or any type of plant matter. Their specialized digestive system is adapted for the rapid processing of animal proteins and fats, lacking the necessary enzymes to break down tough plant components like cellulose. The adult diet is composed exclusively of insects captured while in flight, such as mosquitoes, midges, and various flies. Larger species may occasionally take down moths, butterflies, or even other dragonflies, making them highly effective natural pest controllers.
Specialized Hunting Techniques
Dragonflies are considered among the most successful hunters in the animal kingdom, boasting a capture rate that can reach 97% for some species. Their hunting success is driven by exceptional vision, provided by massive compound eyes that give them a nearly 360-degree field of view. These eyes feature a specialized region, a fovea, that allows them to selectively focus on a single target, tracking it even within a swarm. During pursuit, the dragonfly’s brain calculates an interception course, adjusting its flight path to meet the prey at a predicted point in the air. When close enough, they sweep their six long, spiny legs forward to form a “prey basket,” subduing and consuming the captured insect mid-flight using powerful, serrated mandibles.
The Nymph Stage: A Different Kind of Hunter
Before reaching the adult stage, the dragonfly lives underwater as a nymph, also known as a larva, for months or even years. The nymph is a fierce aquatic predator, and its diet consists of various small water-dwelling organisms, including mosquito larvae, aquatic worms, and smaller insect nymphs. Larger dragonfly nymphs are voracious enough to prey on tadpoles and even small fish. Their unique hunting apparatus is a specialized lower lip called the prehensile labium, or “mask,” which is folded and held beneath the head at rest. To strike, the nymph rapidly extends this hinged appendage, which is tipped with grasping pincers, often powered by hydraulic pressure.