Questions people actually ask

True dragonflies are the Anisoptera, meaning ‘unequal-winged’: their hind wings are usually shorter and broader than their front wings. British Dragonfly Society: Frequently asked questions Damselflies are the Zygoptera, meaning ‘pair-winged’ or ‘equal-winged’: all four wings are a similar size and shape. British Dragonfly Society: Frequently asked questions

Dragonflies don’t sting, and they don’t attack people. A big one held in the hand may try to bite, but it can’t break the skin. British Dragonfly Society: Frequently asked questions

The name ‘Dragon-fly’ was first used by Francis Bacon, in a book published in 1626. British Dragonfly Society: Frequently asked questions

There are around 6,000 species of dragonflies and damselflies in the world, and most live in the tropics. Natural History Museum, London: Dragonflies, the ultimate hunters · checked 31 Oct 2026 56 species have been seen in the UK and Ireland. Natural History Museum, London: Dragonflies, the ultimate hunters · checked 31 Oct 2026

18 species of dragonfly and damselfly are currently recorded on the Isle of Man, and 11 of them are Manx residents. Manx Wildlife Trust: State of Nature 2024, terrestrial invertebrates · checked 31 Oct 2026

In Britain, even a lucky adult damselfly seldom lives more than two weeks, and a dragonfly more than two months. British Dragonfly Society: Frequently asked questions From egg to the end of adult life, the whole life cycle takes at least about 6 months, and some big dragonflies take 6 or 7 years. Most of it is spent underwater as a larva. British Dragonfly Society: Frequently asked questions

Adults mainly eat other flying insects, especially midges and mosquitoes. British Dragonfly Society: Frequently asked questions Larvae eat insect larvae, worms, snails, tadpoles and even small fish. British Dragonfly Society: Life cycle and biology

A dragonfly can have as many as 30,000 lenses in each eye. Natural History Museum, London: Dragonflies, the ultimate hunters Their huge eyes give them near-360° vision. Natural History Museum, London: Dragonflies, the ultimate hunters

Dragonflies can’t hear, so their eyes are vital. Natural History Museum, London: Dragonflies, the ultimate hunters

The biggest hawkers can reach 10 to 15 metres a second, roughly 25 to 30 mph. British Dragonfly Society: Frequently asked questions

The cast skin left behind is called an exuvia. British Dragonfly Society: Life cycle and biology

300 million years ago, giant dragonfly-like insects called griffinflies had wingspans up to 71 cm. Natural History Museum, London: Giant dragonflies