Data sheet dragonflies
Latin name:
Odonata
Origin:
worldwide
Size (in cm:
up to 20 centimeters wingspan
age expectation:
Up to five years as a larvae, two to three months as a dragonfly
behavior/stocking
Location at the pond:
The larvae live in the water, the flying dragonfly swarms out
Dangerous?
Dragonflies are not dangerous, they have no sting Anton Ehrola, 2020 Odonata, CC BY-SA 4.0
If you see dragonflies buzzing over the water, they are a sign that nature is still intact to some extent. Dragonflies are among the protected species.
They come in different colors, they all have a shimmering shell in common, just like the large compound eyes. Dragonflies linger on and around the water.
Typical characteristics
The dragonfly has an elongated body and four wings that are attached in the front area, behind the head. The two pairs of wings can move independently of each other, which makes the dragonfly very flexible and the flight like a helicopter.
They often stand in the air, some specimens can even fly backwards. Dragonflies have the ability to fly very quickly, these insects can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h.
The body
The long body helps with this. Dragonflies have a shimmering, shiny body that comes in a variety of colors. Some dragonflies are blue, some green, some yellow.
the eyes
The dragonflies’ eyes are the most striking. The animals have compound eyes, they consist of thousands of small eyes, each of them looks slightly in a different direction and so these eyes take in many times more pictures than, for example, humans.
But even among the insects, the eyesight of these animals is remarkable, science assumes that dragonflies have the best eyesight in their animal class.
Occurrence in the pond
Dragonflies live near water. This is important for laying eggs and for the development of the larvae. Dragonflies can be found at ponds, pools, but also lakes. Vegetation plays a major role in habitat. The more species-rich life on the water is, the better it is.
In the larval stage and as a dragonfly, it needs many small and large insects for food. As a larva, the dragonfly lives exclusively in water, and the larva is equipped with gills. The larval stage can last up to five years, with an average duration of two years.
Out of the water into the air
When the larva matures, it comes out of the water and hangs on a plant near the water until the dragonfly hatches. Then her habitat changes from water to air, she begins to fly.
She also goes to fields and forests to hunt. Dragonflies are a good indicator of nature. If it is intact, then it offers them good living space.
Feed & Nutrition
Dragonflies are classic predators, they feed on insects. Mosquito larvae are a found food, but tadpoles are also part of their diet. Dragonfly larvae can even eat small fish out of the water. The dragonfly captures its food in flight with its front legs, then cuts it up on its lower lip.
propagation and breeding
When dragonflies mate, the male courts the female. If the female is ready, the male grabs her with his pincers, they are on the abdomen, on the neck. The female then bends her abdomen forward so she can fertilize the male.
This is called the mating wheel because the bodies of the two dragonflies form a kind of circle. The female lays the fertilized eggs in a body of water, where the larvae hatch and develop into the finished dragonfly.
From larva to dragonfly
A larva sheds its skin very often because the skin cannot grow with it. When the larva moults for the last time, the dragonfly hatches. Thus begins the life of the formerly crawling insect in the water as a flying hunter.
Other questions
Who Eats Dragonflies?
Frogs, spiders and birds are the dragonflies’ biggest predators.
Where do dragonflies lay their eggs?
Dragonflies lay their eggs near the water, so the larvae can develop in the water.
Which fish eat dragonfly larvae?
Some pond fish, perch for example, eat dragonfly larvae.
Which Bird Eats Dragonflies?
Many birds eat dragonflies. One example is the bee-eater, who not only likes bees.