Dragonfly

Also called darner, devil’s arrow, or devil’s darning needle, the dragonfly is a predatory insect common around freshwater habitats. They have long bodies with two narrow pairs of wings made of thin, transparent membrane. They have large, bulging eyes that give them very good, nearly 360° vision. Larvae or nymphs live in the water and are predators there, just as the adults are in the air. In fact, larger species occasionally even dine on small fish or tadpoles! Some species are migratory, alone or together in groups. Like the macroinvertebrates, dragonflies are helpful indicators of habitat quality because, to survive, they require healthy native vegetation for cover and to provide oxygen and to promote clean water. Dragonflies have a long history, pre-dating dinosaurs!