Living on every continent but Antarctica, these insects are instantly recognizable by their large bodies; four long, horizontal wings; and the way they hover and zip around. Dragonflies can reach speeds of up to 35 miles an hour and fly just as gracefully backward by lifting off vertically, helicopter style. Their compound eyes are so large they nearly touch, and each one has about 28,000 single eyes, or ommatidia. Regarding habitat, these types of dragonflies prefer temporary water bodies and are often seen in rice fields and other agricultural areas.
Originating from Scandinavia, these types of dragonflies are seen in many parts of Northern Europe and North America. They are typically found in acidic water bodies with abundant floating vegetation. Northern Emeralds are slender-bodied dragonflies with bright emerald green eyes and a bronze or dark brown body. The males of the species are larger than the females, measuring up to 2 inches in length, and have a club-shaped abdomen and terminal appendages. Female Sanddragons, on the other hand, have a cylindrical abdomen and lack claspers. They live near ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow-moving streams, where they hunt for insects.
Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata)
- It thrives in marshes, ponds, lakes, and slow streams, particularly those with plenty of reeds and vegetation.
- They are aggressive predators, spending much of their time on the wing patrolling large territories.
- The Twelve-spotted Skimmer is a highly admired species due to its unique and fascinating characteristics.
- Dragonflies also have huge bulging eyes that occupy most of the head, giving some a field of vision approaching 360 degrees.
- Twelve-spotted Skimmers often perch on tall reeds or branches, surveying their territory and flying in short bursts to catch insects.
- They are typically found in acidic water bodies with abundant floating vegetation.
Disproportionately large, the mask folds beneath both the head and thorax when it is not in use. At the end of the mask is a set of fanglike pincers used to seize prey such as mosquito larvae, worms, crustaceans, tadpoles, and small fish. Different species of dragonfly larvae can be described as sprawlers, burrowers, hiders, or claspers.
Moreover, this darner dragonfly can migrate hundreds of miles yearly, which is impressive for any insect. Most species live in tropical areas, near ponds, rivers, marshes, and beaches; dragonfly nymphs are aquatic. However, each species has its distinct preference for the environment they inhabit.
Brown Hawker
- Most species live in tropical areas, near ponds, rivers, marshes, and beaches; dragonfly nymphs are aquatic.
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- The Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) is a robust dragonfly widely distributed across the eastern United States, easily recognized by its green and blue coloration.
- The Azure Hawker (Aeshna caerulea) is a northern species with vivid blue markings, mostly found in subarctic and alpine habitats.
- They are active hunters, often flying low over the water surface to catch prey and resting frequently on open ground or rocks.
- They are strong flyers and rarely perch, often seen gliding effortlessly over open fields and roads.
It prefers calm freshwater habitats like ponds, lakes, and marshes with lots of emergent vegetation. Blue Dashers prefer still or slow-moving freshwater bodies like ponds, lakes, and marshy areas with abundant vegetation. Common Green Darners are typically found around freshwater habitats such as ponds, marshes, lakes, and slow-moving rivers.
They prefer open areas near freshwater — including lakes, ponds, and even large puddles. They can also be seen migrating in groups during late summer and fall. Slaty Skimmers are usually found in still or slow-moving waters like lakes, ponds, and marshy areas with plenty of shoreline vegetation. Common Whitetails are found near ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers, often favoring areas with open water and scattered vegetation. It thrives in marshes, ponds, lakes, and slow streams, particularly those with plenty of reeds and vegetation.
Both males and females have a yellow and black striped thorax and a mainly black abdomen with yellow rings. Blue Dashers prefer calm waters or slow-moving streams with vegetation, such as marshes, ponds, and lakes. The Azure Hawker (Aeshna caerulea) is a northern species with vivid blue markings, mostly found in subarctic and alpine habitats. The Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta) is a sleek, dark dragonfly commonly seen across the eastern United States. It’s often mistaken for other species due to its uniform bluish-black coloring, especially among males.
Its appearance is striking, with green eyes, a metallic green body, and yellow stripes on its thorax and abdomen. They are relatively large dragonflies, with a body length of up to 2.5 inches and a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches. In 2009, the first comprehensive assessment of insect species showed that 10 percent of dragonfly species were under threat of extinction. The animals are imperiled by destruction of freshwater habitats—particularly ponds, bogs, and dragonfly doji fens—by pollution, and non-native vegetation.
Common Sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus)
Despite its name, it can be difficult to spot because of its ability to hide in sand or mud. The Black Saddlebags dragonfly is a type of skimmer dragonfly found in the aquatic environments of North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Asia. She prefers cooler climates, while the Common Sanddragon is home in the sand near streams and rivers.
Blue Dasher
Black Saddlebags are strong fliers, often seen soaring effortlessly in groups, especially during late summer migrations.
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Whether delicately perched on a cattail or hovering over a pond, dragonflies are a sure sign of summer. As their name suggests, this type of dragonfly bags the record for the longest-distance insect flyer. The Common Sanddragon is typically dark brown to black with yellow markings.
In this guide, we’ll explore 25 different types of dragonflies, highlighting their key identification points, habitats, and behaviors. For example, the yellow presba, a dragonfly native only to South Africa, is losing its grassland habitat to the Australian black wattle, a commercially introduced tree. The fast-growing invasive species blocks out sunlight that sustains the grasses. The International Union for Conservation of Nature now considers this dragonfly vulnerable to extinction.
Widespread globally, they are primarily found near rivers and streams, as well as occasionally around lakes and near water-filled ditches. They measure between 1.2 to 1.6 inches, which puts them in the medium-sized bracket of dragonfly species. Growing up to three inches long, darners contain some of the biggest dragonflies in North America.