We have over at least 147 species of dragonflies in Illinois and over 400 in North America. Dragonflies have been around for millions of years and used to be much larger than they are today. Water areas are good places to see some. Most dragonflies hunt, meet their mates, and lay eggs near wet areas, so this is most likely where you will find them.
What to Look for
Dragonflies are winged insects from the order Odonata. Their bodies are typically two to five inches long with wings of similar length. Most often, we see them flying around a wet area or perched on vegetation with their wings perpendicular to their bodies.
Although their bodies have three main parts (head, thorax and abdomen), it is often their large, compound eyes we notice first. Their eyes are very important in spotting prey, which usually consists of small insects. They can move quickly to capture their prey.
The thorax is the main part of the body to which the wings are attached. The abdomen contains the reproductive organs.
Defending Territory
Males often defend territory around a water area by flying back and forth over it. They wait for a female to fly into their territory so they can begin a courtship ritual called a tandem flight. Once the couple has mated, the female deposits her eggs (ovipositing) along submerged pond foliage or near pond habitat, depending on the dragonfly species.
Most eggs hatch within a few weeks. Larvae will emerge and feed off worms, other insect larvae, or baby fish. As the larvae develop, they shed their outer skins and become the winged dragonflies we are most likely to see.
Driven by Food
The adult dragonflies are driven by a need for food. Sometimes they catch other prey in midair called “hawking.” Other times, they “glean” or hover over an area where prey are perched and then swoop in to grab and eat it. Most “patrol” their hunting grounds by flying back and forth over it.
Besides googling “dragonflies” on the internet for other information on them, I recommend “Stokes Beginner’s Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies” with Donald and Lillian Stokes. It’s easy to understand and shows most species we see in Illinois.
Dragonfly watching is fun to do with family. Children and grandchildren have a lot of fun following these friendly creatures. Be sure and take along a pair of binoculars so you can study them closely. It’s wonderful to see those eyes magnified. If you’re lucky, one may follow you around the pond and you’ll get to see those big eyes up close and personal. Oh my…how delightful that will be!
Deanna Frautschi is a local Naturalist who is passionate about connecting families with nature. Using her knowledge of wildlife and her photography skills, she helps others enjoy the nature around them. If you have any questions about exploring nature with your children and grandchildren, you may contact Deanna at Decardinal@aol.com. Join the hundreds who follow her on Facebook where she posts photographs and short video clips of birds and other wildlife taken on her travels as well as in her yard. You can also join her "Nature Lady Lessons" and "Hummingbirds Anonymous" Facebook group pages.
