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Description
Afterwork: Bordered, sharpened, resized

Record breakers

Much larger dragonfly species existed in the distant past than occur on earth today. The largest one, found as a fossil, is an extinct Protodonata named Meganeura monyi from the Permian period with a wingspan of 70–75 cm (27.5–29.5 in). This compares to 19 cm (7.5 in) for the largest modern species of odonates, the Hawaiian endemic dragonfly, Anax strenuus. The smallest modern species recorded is the libellulid dragonfly, Nannophya pygmaea from east Asia with a wingspan of only 20 mm, or about 3/4 of an inch.

Dragonflies are the world's fastest insects, capable of reaching speeds of up to 97 km/h (60 mph). [1] The Common Green Darner dragonfly (Anax junius) is nicknamed "Darning Needle" because of its body shape. It is one of the biggest and fastest-flying dragonflies, able to reach speeds of 85 km/h (53 mph). A study showed that dragonflies can travel as much as 137 km (85 mi) in one day. [2]

Dragonflies have very good eyesight due to their unique eye structure. Dragonflies have up to 30,000 facets to their compound eyes; each one is a separate light-sensing organ or ommatidium, arranged to give nearly a 360° field of vision.

It was recently discovered that dragonflies employ a particular optical illusion, termed motion camouflage, to stalk other insects that invade their territory. A dragonfly can move in such a way as to project itself as a stationary object while speedily attacking its victims, new research suggests. These findings illustrate for the first time how dragonflies use complex camouflaging techniques during aerial combat.

`lns

Description
Afterwork: Bordered, sharpened, resized

Record breakers

Much larger dragonfly species existed in the distant past than occur on earth today. The largest one, found as a fossil, is an extinct Protodonata named Meganeura monyi from the Permian period with a wingspan of 70–75 cm (27.5–29.5 in). This compares to 19 cm (7.5 in) for the largest modern species of odonates, the Hawaiian endemic dragonfly, Anax strenuus. The smallest modern species recorded is the libellulid dragonfly, Nannophya pygmaea from east Asia with a wingspan of only 20 mm, or about 3/4 of an inch.

Dragonflies are the world's fastest insects, capable of reaching speeds of up to 97 km/h (60 mph). [1] The Common Green Darner dragonfly (Anax junius) is nicknamed "Darning Needle" because of its body shape. It is one of the biggest and fastest-flying dragonflies, able to reach speeds of 85 km/h (53 mph). A study showed that dragonflies can travel as much as 137 km (85 mi) in one day. [2]

Dragonflies have very good eyesight due to their unique eye structure. Dragonflies have up to 30,000 facets to their compound eyes; each one is a separate light-sensing organ or ommatidium, arranged to give nearly a 360° field of vision.

It was recently discovered that dragonflies employ a particular optical illusion, termed motion camouflage, to stalk other insects that invade their territory. A dragonfly can move in such a way as to project itself as a stationary object while speedily attacking its victims, new research suggests. These findings illustrate for the first time how dragonflies use complex camouflaging techniques during aerial combat.

`lns