Closeup of dragonfly at Pomponette Beach

The dragonfly is a flying insect with an elongated body composed of 10 distinct segments. It can measure up to 7 cm long with a wingspan of 3 to 11 cm. It has 4 transparent wings with serrated veins. According to the species, the posterior wings can be equal or broader than the anterior wings, and they are of various lively colors: red, yellow, green, blue... The dragonfly has a round head, 2 eyes with multiple facets, bulging in the shape of globules, 2 small bristled antennas, 3 pairs of legs directed towards the front and a powerful jaw. A dragonfly weighs less than a gram. We often confuse dragonflies and damselflies (or zygopters). However, they are distinguished by their eyes and their wings. In dragonflies, the eyes are touching and the wings are spread when they are posed, while in damselflies, smaller, the eyes are separated and the wings are joined when they are posed. The dragonfly lives on calm water bodies: on the edge of lakes, ponds and long-flowing rivers around the world. Some dragonflies can go inland to hunt. As it is a cold-blooded insect, it does not tolerate too cold temperatures. It feeds on flying insects (butterflies, mosquitoes, flies...). The larvae feed on tadpoles, frogs and aquatic insects. The dragonfly, although being a solitary animal, reproduces in May. The female mates several times. Generally, she lays her eggs on the surface of the water or in the hole of a plant stem. She can lay up to 600 eggs, which hatch after a few days or weeks, depending on the species. The larvae sometimes live several years underwater before metamorphosing into adults. During their growth, they make several moults (between 10 and 16). Like the adult dragonfly, the larva has small antennas and large eyes.