Dragonfly myths, gently untangled
10 things people often get wrong, with the sources that set them straight.
Myth Dragonflies sting.
Fact 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
Myth Dragonflies and damselflies are the same thing.
Fact 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
Myth Dragonflies have no antennae.
Fact Dragonflies do have antennae, but they are very tiny and hard to see. British Dragonfly Society: Frequently asked questions
Myth Dragonflies spend most of their lives flying.
Fact Dragonflies spend most of their lives as larvae. British Dragonfly Society: Life cycle and biology
Myth Young dragonflies turn into a pupa, like caterpillars do.
Fact Dragonflies have no pupa stage: unlike butterflies, they go straight from larva to adult. British Dragonfly Society: Life cycle and biology
Myth A new adult already has its bright colours.
Fact New adults are pale. They spend about a week feeding away from water while they gain their adult colours. British Dragonfly Society: Life cycle and biology Newly emerged common blue damselflies are often pale pinkish-brown rather than sky-blue. British Dragonfly Society: Frequently asked questions
Myth Dragonflies only eat big insects.
Fact Adults mainly eat other flying insects, especially midges and mosquitoes. British Dragonfly Society: Frequently asked questions
Myth Dragonflies can only fly forwards.
Fact They can control each of their four wings independently, so they can hover and fly in any direction. Natural History Museum, London (news, June 2018): Dragonfly wings could inspire new aeroplane flight control
Myth Dragonfly larvae just nibble pond weed.
Fact Larvae eat insect larvae, worms, snails, tadpoles and even small fish. British Dragonfly Society: Life cycle and biology A larva has a hinged jaw (the labium) that shoots out in an instant to catch prey. British Dragonfly Society: Life cycle and biology
Myth Insects were always about the size they are now.
Fact 300 million years ago, giant dragonfly-like insects called griffinflies had wingspans up to 71 cm. Natural History Museum, London: Giant dragonflies