The dragonfly has a striking appearance. Adult dragonflies have a slender, robust body, and two pairs of elaborately veined wings. The hindwing is wider at the base than the forewing. They have large, compound eyes. Their short antennae make them easy to spot in the water. They have six legs, and their legs can move rapidly. The wings are distinctly curved. Dragonflies can reach a wingspan of up to 5 inches.
Although most of their life cycle is spent in the nymph stage, dragonflies are critically endangered. They are threatened by a combination of human activities and environmental factors, including the loss of freshwater habitats. Since they depend on healthy, natural ecosystems, there has been a severe decline in these ecosystems worldwide. For example, between 1950 and 1995, Great Britain lost three species of dragonflies. Dragonflies have inherent value as life forms. They contribute genetic diversity to ecosystems, act as bio-indicators for environmental health, and eat insects harmful to humans. Therefore, conservation and restoration of wildlife habitat is critical.
The dragonfly’s life cycle includes three stages. It begins with an egg, and then moves on to the larval stage, called the imago. These larvae live for three to four weeks. Some species may even live for five years. After reaching adulthood, dragonflies will stay as adults for a few weeks or months. Unlike mosquitoes, dragonflies do not sting or bite humans, but they are a pest to other insects.