Insect identifier · Often confused insects
How to identify a Dragonfly
Anisoptera
· Also called darner, mosquito hawk
People search “dragonfly” because it looks like something that bites. Dragonfly (Anisoptera) does not bite or sting people. Also called darner, mosquito hawk.
The insect patrolling the pond is eating biters, not being one.
What does a dragonfly look like?
Dragonfly is Large, often 40–80 mm wingspan. Colors: blue, green, brown, black. Marks: Two pairs of wings held out flat; Huge eyes; Fast flight over water; No stinger.
Dragonfly is Large, often 40–80 mm wingspan. Colors: blue, green, brown, black. Marks: Two pairs of wings held out flat; Huge eyes; Fast flight over water; No stinger.
Identification marks
- Two pairs of wings held out flat
- Huge eyes
- Fast flight over water
- No stinger
Size: Large, often 40–80 mm wingspan
Colors: blue, green, brown, black
Where: outdoor
Dragonfly vs Damselfly
Dragonfly: four wings, huge eyes, no sting. Horse fly: one pair of wings, painful bite.
- Damselfly identification (Zygoptera)
- Cicada identification (Neotibicen / Magicicada spp.)
- Horse fly identification (Tabanus spp.)
Range and season
Active summer. Places: water, yard, marsh. Hunters of mosquitoes and flies. They do not sting people. A rare pinch if grabbed is not a bite.
Ponds, marshes, and yards in summer.
Hunters of mosquitoes and flies. They do not sting people. A rare pinch if grabbed is not a bite.
Summer
Common questions
Do dragonflies bite or sting?
No stinger. They do not bite people in any ordinary sense.
Do dragonflies eat mosquitoes?
Yes. Adults hunt small flying insects.