Dragon Fly
The ancestors of the Dragon Fly lived on the Earth approximately 250 million years ago and with a wingspan of over 70 cm were huge. About 5‘700 species are known today.
The Dragon Fly (lat. Odonata) has unique flying characteristics. Due to its two pairs of wings, which are able to manoeuvre independently, the Dragon Fly is capable of changing its direction very fast and can stall remain stationary in the air like a helicopter. It can reach a speed of up to 50 km/h. The Dragon Flies’s head is somewhat out of line with the body and is therefore very agile.
It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body. Dragonflies are similar to damselflies, but the adults can be differentiated by the fact that the wings of most dragonflies are held away from, and perpendicular to, the body when at rest.
Dragonflies possess six legs (like any other insect), but most of them cannot walk well. Dragonflies are valuable predators that eat mosquitoes, and other small insects like flies, bees, ants, and butterflies. They are usually found around lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic.
Many Odanata species only live for a few weeks. From the view point of humans, the Dragon Fly is very useful because it eats masses of mosquitoes and other vermin. It doesn’t even spare its fellow species.
Unfortunately, due to climate warming and the threat of their living environment, many Dragon Fly species are jeopardised and critically endangered.