What is a cool fact about dragonflies?

1 ) Dragonflies were some of the first winged insects to evolve, some 300 million years ago. Modern dragonflies have wingspans of only two to five inches, but fossil dragonflies have been found with wingspans of up to two feet.

What are 4 facts about dragonflies?

Here are a few facts that may change the way you look at these unique, ancient, and incredibly varied insects.

• Dragonflies Can Intercept Prey Midair.
• Dragonflies Have Incredibly Sharp Mandibles.
• Dragonflies Are Freaky Fliers.
• A Dragonfly’s Head Is All Eyes.
• Dragonflies Live as Long as 2 Years Underwater.

How old is the Dragon Fly?

about 300 million years ago
Dragonflies or “odonates,” are among the most ancient insects and were some of the first winged insects to evolve, about 300 million years ago. While modern dragonflies have wingspans of about two to five inches, fossil dragonflies have been found with wingspans of up to two feet!

How fast can a dragonfly fly?

35 miles an hour
The Fastest Flying Insect: Dragonflies are known to travel at the speed of 35 miles an hour. Hawk Moths, which have been clocked at a speed of 33.7 miles an hour, come in second.

Can dragonflies sting?

Do Dragonflies Bite or Sting? No, although large dragonflies, if held in the hand, will sometimes try to bite they fail to break the skin. They have a lot of “folk names” which imply that they do, such as “Horse-stinger”, but they don’t use their egg-laying tube (ovipositor) for stinging.

Are dragonflies poisonous?

In truth dragonflies are harmless to humans – unless you force your finger into their mouth. But dragonflies certainly can’t sting you, and they won’t bite you unless severely provoked.

What are some myths about dragonflies?

The dragonfly earns its name from the many myths associated to it. It is believed to have come from dragons. A Chinese belief purports that the insect is the embodiment of the soul of the dragon; the latter is a symbol of happiness. Scientifically, the dragonfly is an insect that belongs to the family Odonata .

What are the characteristics of a dragonfly?

Dragonfly Characteristics. A Dragonfly has two large compound eyes which take up most of its head. Dragonflies have long, delicate, membranous wings which are transparent and some have light yellow colouring near the tips. Their bodies are long and slender and they have a short antennae.

How big are dragonflies?

Dragonflies come in many sizes. The average size of a dragonfly is from 1 to 4 inches in length. In prehistoric times dragonflies were much larger – the largest flying insects ever. The largest member of extinct dragonflies had a wing span of about 70-75 cm or about 30 inches.

What are the body parts of a dragonfly?

Like all insects, the dragonfly has a three-part body: a head, a thorax, and a long, thin, segmented abdomen. The dragonfly has 2 large compound eyes that take up most of the head. On the short thorax there are three pairs of jointed legs and two pairs of long, delicate, membranous wings.