In 2004, the word "Libelle" (German for dragonfly) was one of the loveliest words in the German language and a great favourite with children. Why? Because it’s easy to say and sounds so friendly that the animal itself just has to be peace-loving. People used to think dragonflies were dangerous and gave them names like "devil's needle" or "eye stabber". Experts at the Fressnapf specialist retail chain know even more about these splendid, colourful insects.

That belief that dragonflies bite was a misconception which consumed people for hundreds of years. The reason for this may have been that dragonflies approach both humans and livestock very closely. And the fact that they are unusually big compared to the biting midges or gadflies, people were scared of them. Biting insects are high on a dragonfly's menu which is why one could get bitten - but not, however, by the dragonfly. She would only have been at the scene of the crime by chance as she zeroed in on her food.

The toothed chewing tool of the dragonfly was the determining factor for the zoological name Odonata (from the Greek meaning "toothed ones"). Both adult dragonflies and their larvae can grab vigorously with their mouths or specially modified lower jaws (labium). Their beautiful name "Libelle" supposedly comes from comparing a small dragonfly larva with a hammerhead shark (named "Libella") - because both have the T-shaped appearance of a water level (Latin "libella" = a small level).

Dragonflies have been around for several hundred million years - i.e. long before us. Their large wings are striking and can achieve a span of up to 19 centimetres in some species: these are connected to the body with strong flying muscles and open up a lot of potential for the dragonfly. They can hover or briefly fly backwards and accelerate or even brake in an instant. Even long distance flights are possible - Indian dragonflies can cover distances of 18,000 kilometres! And: the number of wing beats per second is so few with dragonflies that we scarcely hear them.

Worldwide there are some 4,700 species of dragonfly: at our latitude they bear such lovely names as Beautiful Demoiselle, Green Hawker, Azure Damselfly or simply damselflies and commonly appear in Europe. Their development has conditioned them to seek out the vicinity of water such as ponds, lakes, moors or rivers. Dragonflies mainly lay their eggs in water. From these hatch the prolarve which develop relatively quickly through skin casting to become true larvae. Almost all species live longer as larvae than in the adult dragonfly stage which lasts only from a few weeks to months. The larva of the spike-tailed dragonfly, for instance, spends up to five years in the water! Most species undergo a two to three year long period of multiple larva stages before they look for a place on land to shed their skin. That's when the dragonfly unfurls her ultimate splendour, leaving its empty shell - the so-called exuviae - behind.

Because their natural habitat is constantly shrinking due to the decline and pollution of water courses, the dragonfly has now become a protected species in Germany and other European countries.


Download this article (PDF) (178 KB)


Pictures from this article:

Sparkling and elfin-like Worldwide there are some 4,700 species of dragonfly: at our latitude they bear such lovely names as Beautiful Demoiselle, Green Hawker, Azure Damselfly or simply damselflies and commonly appear in Europe. Photo: Fressnapf /Robert Kutschera (Photos may only be reproduced with permission and in connection with editorial text. High-resolution photos can be requested from the Fressnapf press office.)