Dragonflies & Damselflies Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Odonata	Dragonflies are a type of insect which have been around for millions of years. They are so successful that they have not needed to change much. They were around at the time of the dinosaurs. This group also contains damselflies, and demoiselles. They all look quite similar. They have long, slender bodies, two pairs of large wings, and very large eyes. The dragonflies, though, have a stouter body. They are impressive-looking insects and are often brightly coloured. They are harmless to humans, that is to say - they do not bite or sting.
	Habitat	Dragonflies and damselflies like to live near slow-moving or still freshwater, such as freshwater lakes and ponds. Here, they can lay their eggs. The young nymphs develop under water, and the adults fly above it.
	Moving around	The young nymphs crawl around in the sediment. Dragonflies nymphs also squirt themselves around by jet propulsion, by pumping water in and out of the tip of their abdomens. Adults are amazingly talented flyers. They can hover and even fly backwards. Dragonflies are much more energetic flyers than the more delicate damselflies. Dragonfly wings do not fold (unlike more complex insects). Dragonflies rest with their wings spread open, while damselflies have them closed.
	Feeding Dragonfly Nymph	They eat: other animals. Both dragonfly adults and nymphs are carnivorous. The nymphs eat lesser water boatmen, pond snail eggs, water fleas, bloodworms and even newt larvae and small fish. Dragonfly nymphs, have a special hooked "mask" which can be shot forward to catch their prey. Adult dragonflies have large compound eyes - which are perfect for hunters, because they are good at detecting movement. Dragonflies can also twist their head around, which helps them to spot flies while flying through the air. They scoop flies out of the air with their legs, and grab them with their jaws. The adults have jaws specially adapted for catching flies, including mosquitos. Dragonfly nymphs are eaten by: large insect larvae, leeches and fish. However, they are camouflaged well (usually brown) so they are well hidden. This helps them to creep up on prey, and to hide from predators. Dragonfly adults are eaten by birds.
	Reproduction     Damselfly Nymph	The development from egg to adult is an example of incomplete metamorphosis. The adult males and females often fly about together while mating. The female sometimes lays her eggs, while she is still joined to the male. Some species carefully make a slit in plant stems, and lay their eggs there. Others simply dip their tail into the water and let their eggs go. The nymphs live under the water. They only come to the surface when they are ready to emerge as adults. Dragonflies can take 2 to 3 years to develop from egg to adult. When they are ready, they crawl out of the water up reed stems. They then undergo a rapid final change into an adult. They must be able to develop and fly off quickly before they are eaten by another animal, and so they usually emerge out of their old skin, within just 2 hours. They are very pale when they first emerge, and it takes a few days before their bright colours develop fully.
	Breathing	While in the water, dragonfly nymphs breathe through complicated gills inside the end of their bodies. Water is pumped in and out of the gills, to bring in oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide (this also helps to propel the animal forward). Damselfly nymphs breath through 3 feathery gills which grow out the back of their tails. The adults breath through holes in their bodies, known as spiracles.
	Size	Average 7 cm
	Fun Fact	The largest ever known dragonfly lived a long time ago - and its fossilised wings span 60 cm. That is about twice the width of your computer screen, and as long as two 30 cm rulers, see below!