“They are considered beneficial to humans. “Dragonflies are predators in the insect world and feed on many small-to-medium-sized bugs, eating things like mosquitoes, flies, moths and midges. Dragonflies eat their own weight, or even more, in harmful insects on a daily basis.”

The dragonfly does an amazing job of helping humans by controlling populations of pest insects, especially those that bug us most, such as mosquitoes and biting flies. A single dragonfly can reportedly eat anywhere from 30 to hundreds of mosquitoes per day.

A landscape designer by trade, Cook says that the voracious appetite of dragonflies makes them a great asset to the garden. “Because they’re top predators in the insect world, they keep a balance with the insects in your yard. These plants will attract tiny pollinators, which also serve as food for the dragonflies.

The natural colors of an adult dragonfly are often a combination of red, brown, black or yellow colors pigments. On the other hand, dragonflies can show bright blue or green iridescence due to structural colors that are created by photonic cells that reflect certain bands of light in specific ways.

If you see a lot of dragonflies where you live, you may ask whether these winged insects bite. The short answer is yes. Dragonflies aren’t an aggressive insect, but they can bite out of self-defense when they feel threatened. The bite isn’t dangerous, and in most cases, it won’t break human skin.

In some cultures, dragonflies represent good luck or prosperity. So make a wish when you see a dragonfly and it’ll come true. Fishermen used them as an indicator of good fishing grounds. Plenty of dragonflies meant there were plenty of fish around.

The largest dragonfly appears to be the Giant Petaltail (Petalura ingentissima) from northeastern Australia; however, there is some argument about this. The Giant Petaltail has a wingspan of approximately 160mm (6.3 inches).