Dragonfly, or Darning Needle, the name for an order of large, beneficial insects that feed on harmful

insects such as gnats and mosquitoes. Dragonflies occur in the swamps and streams of all temperate and
tropical regions. There are two subordersdamselflies and true dragonflies. Dragonflies generally are
brightly colored with yellow, green, blue, or red spots or stripes that stand out against darker
backgrounds. A dragonfly has a large head, bulging eyes, and strong jaws. Three pairs of medium-sized
legs are attached to a short thorax, behind which is a long, slender abdomen. Two pairs of transparent,
veined wings are attached to the thorax. Wingspan is from two inches (5 cm) to seven inches (18 cm).
Dragonflies can fly forwards, backwards, and sideways, because at any one time their wings can rotate,
move up and down, or move forward and backward.

Damselflies are smaller and more fragile than true dragonflies. Damselflies hover over reeds and grasses
bordering ponds, where they obtain food by seizing other insects. At rest, damselflies hold their wings
straight up from their bodies.

True dragonflies pursue insects through the air and use all six legs to seize the prey, which they then
crush with their jaws. At rest, true dragonflies spread their wings flat, at right angles to their bodies.

Damselflies lay their eggs on soft plant tissue just beneath the water's surface. True dragonflies drop
their eggs on the surface of the water. Both damselflies and true dragonflies pass through an immature
aquatic stage that lasts several years.

Dragonflies belong to the order Odonata. Damselflies make up the suborder Zygoptera; true dragonflies,
the suborder Anisoptera.