Dragonfly Basics

The dragonfly belongs to the subfamily Odonata, an insect suborder of butterflies, which are commonly known as dung beetles or simply dragonflies. It is the largest of all butterflies and the largest flying insect in the world. It has yellowish or white marked wings with golden band along the front wing’s edge. The word “drago” is derived from Greek and means “wing”. A dragonfly is often confused with ladybug or caterpillar.

A dragonfly is usually defined by its wings by the shape and arrangement of the wings. A dragonfly is characterized by large, multifaceted eyes, usually two sets of equally visible wings, often with colorful patches, and an extended, thin body with a tail. The head of a dragonfly appears very small and insignificant when the entire insect is viewed closely. A dragonfly is not as dangerous as many other insects, since it can not fly very far from the sun and is dependent on humans for food. Although dragonflies tend to be nocturnal, they are often seen during the day dancing or flitting about.

Dragonflies have certain predators that try to eat them. The most common one is mosquitoes, flies, and spiders. Other threats come from bees, wasps and hornets. There are also certain types of plants that dragonfly larvae or dragonfly eggs love to eat such as milkweed and aphids. Butterflies usually lay their eggs in a creamy colored liquid called nectar, which contains highly concentrated protein.

In the southern United States and in parts of Africa and Australia, dragonflies are commonly referred to as “flying cows.” Their scientific name is Phyllanthus or sometimes Phlox. They are also known as the “walking cats” because of their amazing ability to move swiftly on four legs and their unique sense of smell. This sense is used to detect impending danger, but a dragonfly’s eyes are designed in a way that allows them to see almost all areas of their environment at night. This allows them to seek out a source of food and avoid danger.

The average lifespan of a dragonfly is one to three years. They lay a single egg, which will hatch into a caterpillar which is similar to a dragonfly. As the caterpillar grows, it will turn into a dragonfly. This process occurs every year on average.

The dragonfly makes an interesting and fascinating addition to any home, especially those with a close interest in insect life. They are a gentle and extremely effective insect pest controller. Some people even think of them as good house pets! A dragonfly may be obtained from most local pet supply stores.