Dragonflies are ancient insects that have perfected the art of aerial predation. As formidable hunters, they rely on incredible speed and unparalleled visual acuity to capture their meals. They are a dominant force in the skies, constantly patrolling their habitat for smaller creatures. Their lifecycle involves two distinct predatory stages, each with a specialized diet and hunting strategy.
Adult Dragonfly Diet and Hunting Range
The adult dragonfly’s diet is almost entirely restricted to insects caught while flying. Therefore, the answer to whether they eat grasshoppers is generally no, or only on rare, opportunistic occasions. Grasshoppers are heavy, terrestrial insects not typically encountered in the dragonfly’s aerial hunting space. The adult’s success depends on the agility and volume of prey it can intercept in the air.
Their primary food source consists of smaller, softer-bodied flying insects, such as mosquitoes, midges, gnats, and various flies. They also regularly consume harder-bodied prey like moths, beetles, and flying insects such as bees and wasps. Larger species may occasionally capture and consume smaller butterflies or even other, less-agile dragonflies. These aerial targets must be light enough to be carried and consumed mid-flight.
Dragonflies are opportunistic feeders, eating almost anything they can subdue, provided it is airborne and fits within their size limit. Prey choice is dictated by what is most abundant and easiest to catch within their flight range. This focus on flying prey explains why grasshoppers, which spend most of their time on the ground or in vegetation, are rarely on the adult dragonfly’s menu.
The Predatory Nymph: A Different Menu
The dragonfly begins life as an aquatic predator called a nymph or naiad, spending months or even years underwater. This stage has an entirely different menu, consisting of smaller aquatic life forms. Nymphs are ambush hunters, lying camouflaged on the sediment or among underwater vegetation.
Their diet includes a variety of aquatic insect larvae, small crustaceans, and worms. Larger nymphs can successfully prey on significant targets, including tadpoles and small fish. The nymph uses a specialized, hinged lower jaw, known as the labium or “mask,” to capture food.
This labium is folded neatly beneath the head until the prey is within striking distance. Using hydrostatic pressure, the nymph rapidly extends the toothed labium to snatch the victim. This specialized hunting apparatus means the nymph is completely isolated from the adult’s aerial diet.
Aerial Ambush: How Dragonflies Catch Prey
Adult dragonflies are among the most successful predators, with a hunting success rate approaching 95%. This efficiency is due to their sophisticated flight mechanics and highly developed sensory organs. Dragonflies possess near-360-degree vision, thanks to two massive compound eyes that can contain up to 30,000 individual facets.
Their visual system processes movement at an exceptionally high rate, allowing them to track fast-moving prey that would appear blurred to the human eye. When hunting, the dragonfly does not aim directly at the prey; instead, it calculates an intercept course, predicting the victim’s future position. This strategy minimizes the energy spent on the chase.
The four wings can be controlled independently, enabling extraordinary maneuverability, including the ability to hover or fly backward. Once the dragonfly intercepts its target, it uses its six spiny legs, angled forward, to form a perfect “catch basket”. Prey is scooped into this basket and often begins to be consumed while the dragonfly is still in flight.