Dragonflies and Damselflies

The dragonflies and damselflies are members of the order Odonata. This order of insects is perhaps one of the prominent groups of insects observed by both the casual and experienced visitor to wetland habitats. The brightly colored adults in a wide variety of sizes and shapes fly from reed to reed. Females occasionally dip down to the waters' surface to ova-deposit. Their glass-like wings appear fragile yet strong. Sleek bodies land lightly on the leaves and stems of emergent vegetation: sometimes hundreds at a time. Mosquitoes are a favorite meal of the dragonflies and damselflies. At dusk, dragonflies whirl about in areas where there is often a great abundance of mosquitoes. They dodge, swoop, and turn with great skill in a tight turning radius, consuming large quantities of mosquitoes as they maneuver.