How many dragonfly species

Mature adults: As an adult becomes sexually mature this is often indicated by a change in coloration. Over mature: In some species, adults become darker in coloration as they age. Endangered: Norfolk Hawker White-faced Darter. Vulnerable: Azure Hawker Brilliant Emerald. Sign up for our Newsletter Sign Up. Submit a Sighting Report. These sightings are not vetted and are not automatically treated as scientific records. Report a scientific record for addition to our long-term database of dragonfly occurrence, phenology.

These records are subject to verification by a local expert. Search for:. Characteristics Of True Dragonflies. Body: Large and robust. Female Body: Often thicker in the abdomen. In many species of dragonflies adults change colour as they mature. Nationally Important Species. Hairy Dragonfly. Azure Hawker. Common Hawker. Migrant Hawker. Southern Hawker. The Austropetaliidae family of dragonflies is small and consists of only 4 genera.

The dragonflies of this family are commonly seen in Australia and Chile. The genera are Cordulegastroidea is the second super-family consisting of dragonflies. This super family consists of three families, namely:. The Cordulegastridae family of dragonflies belongs to the Anisoptera Suborder.

These dragonflies have large black or brown bodies with patches of yellow shade. Their common habitat is clear, small woodland streams, where they fly about 30 cm over the water. This small family has only four genera, namely,. The family Neopetaliidae consists of the only family member, Neopetalia Punctata dragonfly. This species occurs commonly in Chile and Argentina. The only genus of this family is Neopetalia. The Chlorogomphidae family is a small group of dragonflies, belonging to the Anisoptera suborder.

This small family consists of only four genera, namely,. This is the last and the third super-family consisting of four dragonfly families. Those families are This Corduliidae family of insects consists of green-eyed skimmers or emerald dragonflies. The body of the dragonfly of this family is usually dark brown or black, and some areas also have metallic yellow or green patches.

The name, Emerald or Green-Eyed are acquired due to the large, emerald like, green-colored eyes they possess. The larvae of this dragonfly are usually hairy-looking, black and semi-aquatic in nature. They are very common, and distributed nearly worldwide, but a few individual species are very rare. For example, the species Hine's emerald dragonfly, biologically known as Somatochlora Hineana is considered as an endangered species in the America.

This family includes four sub-families, namely:. Some other genera are The subfamily Corduliidae of Corduliinae and Macromiinae subfamily of Macromiidae are sometimes considered as the member of this family.

The total strength of this family is more than species. Hence, the most commonly seen dragonflies may be from this family, and it is widely distributed across the planet. Some of the genus in this family are They are usually seen flying over the water bodies through the middle. They have a similar structure to that of the Aeshnidae, but the eyes of Macromiidae Dragonflies are green in color, and can be seen on the top part of the head.

Traditionally, the Macromiinae or the Macromiidae has been included in the Corduliidae, as a subfamily. They are around species classified into three genera. Learn more about Odonata with our guide to their characteristics, and some of the species you might spot in the UK. Dragon and damselflies live in a variety of wetland habitats, but always favouring those with good water quality, as their nymphs grow underwater and require clear water in order to hunt.

Various species favour different habitats, from fast flowing river specialists to still ponds and acidic bogs. They can be see throughout the UK and at our wetland centres from early to late summer. Damselflies and dragonflies are both members of the same family.

Although damselflies are usually smaller and more delicate than dragonflies, some species like the tropical wetland-dwelling Pseudostigmatidae, otherwise known as helicopter damselflies or forest giants, can have a wingspan of up to 17cm! They have two huge compound eyes 30, individual facets - the largest eyes for their body size of all animals , designed to look upwards. If you look at a dragonfly closely, you will see a very complex veination in the wings. This is a clue to their ancient lineage.

They were flying around almost in their present form million years ago, in the Jurassic period. If you look at the wings of later insects, for example the parasitic wasp, you will see that they have very few veins.

In modern insects, the wing muscles move the sides of the thorax — and the wings move. But because dragonflies are ancient insects, the wing muscles are connected directly to the wings. This gives a much slower wing beat - beats per second midges beat at 1, beats per sec which is why dragonflies make a noise like a little football rattle.