Hobbies And Interests
Flying
Dragonflies have a set of hind wings that are normally broader and shorter with forewings, which are long and thin to enable them to be fast and strong fliers. Oftentimes, you see dragonflies just flying around. They are often curious of people and will fly around them for that reason, but will cause no harm since they do not bite or sting. Dragonflies also mate while flying. It is not uncommon to see two dragonflies flying around, attached to one another. This is how the male and female dragonflies go through their mating process.
Habitat
The habitat of dragonflies is near various bodies of water. Dragonflies need to live near water since they lay their eggs near or on the water. Dragonflies are often found along the banks of ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, canals and bogs. Adult dragonflies will perch on plants around water. Occasionally, dragonflies are seen flying around blacktop parking lots because they mistake the blacktop for a body of water.
Diet
Dragonflies eat all sorts of other smaller insects, including common flies, ants, bees and gnats. The consumption of mosquitoes, which carry the West Nile virus, by dragonflies make them a valuable part of nature for people. Larger dragonflies occasionally will eat smaller dragonflies and damselflies. Dragonflies prefer to hunt for their prey during the day since their eyesight is the strongest sense used to track food. They will often fly away from the water they live near to find food.
Life Cycle
Dragonflies start out as one of the hundreds of eggs laid by each female in the plant leaves or stems of plants in and around water. The male dragonfly will guard the female while she lays the egg, and the eggs hatch within two to five weeks. A small tadpole-looking dragonfly larva emerges from the egg and molts for the first of many times soon after. Dragonfly larvae spends most of its time catching and eating prey. It will molt five to 14 more times before becoming an adult.