Page 74 - A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife

gonfly

(Anisoptera)

Description

Dragonflies have long thin
bodies, very large eyes
and two pairs of wings that
they hold out flat on either
side of their body. They
are often very colorful.
Dragonfly babies are called
nymphs. Nymphs have
three pointed structures at
the tip of their abdomen
and mouthparts that are
modified to shoot out and grab prey.

Distribution and Habitat

Males fight aerial duels for territory, Immature dragonflies live in
displaying their size and speed to freshwater. They are most abundant
each other. and diverse in small, slow-moving
streams and ponds that have

no fish, but are found in many

shallow freshwater habitats. Adult

dragonflies usually stay near water, but sometimes travel away from water

while hunting or during migration. They are fast fliers, so they prefer to hunt in

open areas, avoiding thick trees or other vegetation. They are found in all five

physiographic provinces.

Role in Food Web

Adult dragonflies are often the top predators in ecosystems without fish.
They are very important to help control pest populations. Dragonfly nymphs
eat aquatic insects, tadpoles, small fish and other invertebrates. Adult
dragonflies eat flying insects, especially mosquitoes and other true flies, but
also aphids, smaller dragonflies, damselflies and just about any other insects
they can grab. Predators include frogs, fish, crayfish, insect-eating birds and
large spiders.

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