Dragonfly

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Aeshnidae

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Austropetaliidae

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Cordulegastridae

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Corduliidae

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Gomphidae

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Libellulidae

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Neopetaliidae

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Petaluridae

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A dragonfly (also known as devil's darning needle) is an insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta and, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera. It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body. Conventionally, the Anisoptera were given suborder rank besides the "ancient dragonflies" (Anisozygoptera, 2 living species and numerous fossil ones), but it has been determined recently that the Anisozygoptera form a paraphyletic assemblage of primitive relatives of the Anisoptera. Thus, the Anisoptera are reduced to an infraorder, forming the new suborder Epiprocta (dragonflies in a general sense). The artificial grouping Anisozygoptera is disbanded, its members being recognized as largely extinct offshoots at various stages of dragonfly evolution.

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Dragonflies typically eat mosquitoes, midges and other small insects like flies, bees, and butterflies. They are usually found around lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic. Dragonflies do not bite or sting humans. In fact, they are valued as a predator that helps control the populations of insects that do, such as mosquitoes.

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Anisozygoptera: redirect Dragonfly...

Paraphyletic: redirect Paraphyly...

Midge: Midges are certain small two-winged flying insects. More precisely, the members of several families of Diptera are known as midges, including especially the Chironomidae, or non-biting midges, and the Ceratopogonidae or biting midges (also known as noseeums in North America). They are considered by...

Dragonfly related Images and Photos (experimental)

Dragonfly	Dragonfly	Dragon Fly II	Dragon Fly Splendor
Dragon Fly 850 Piece Puzzle	Blue Dragon Fly	Dragonfly I	Dragonfly I
Dragonfly II	The Snap-Dragon-Fly	Dragonfly Lexie	Dragonfly Dance