25 Fascinating Dragonfly Facts for Kids | 2 Free PDFs
These dragonfly facts for kids will fascinate the bug-obsessed. These swooping insect predators captivate children’s attention and invite them to learn more about nature.
Extend children’s learning with these dragonfly facts about life cycles, habits, predatory behavior, and meaning. Want even more dragonfly ideas? Check out the dragonfly children’s book list.
Dragonflies are flying insects.
Dragonflies can be many colors depending on their species, age, and sex.
Two giant eyes make up most of the dragonfly’s head.
Their large eyes can see in all directions, except right behind them.
The color of a dragonfly’s wing changes depending on temperature. Dragonflies who live where it is cool will have darker wing colors to help capture heat from the sun.
Dragonflies eat other insects.
One dragonfly can eat hundreds of mosquitos in a day.
Dragonflies are hunting experts. They are more successful predators than cheetahs, sharks, and wolves.
Dragonflies will rest in a handstand position to cool off. This position keeps most of their body out of the sun.
When they get hot, dragonflies skim the water to cool off.
Dragonflies swarm in big groups to migrate or feed.
Dragonflies can move very fast, up to 35 mph.
Dragonflies can fly in any direction, including backward, upside down, and in loops.
Dragonflies can hover in place, like helicopters.
Baby dragonflies are called nymphs.
Dragonfly nymphs are aquatic insects and live in water. They breathe with gills.
Nymphs eat tadpoles, fish, and insects in the water.
Nymphs can live in the water for months or years. They molt (shed their exoskeleton) as they grow and slowly become adult dragonflies. The final time a nymph molts, they let their wings out.
Dragonflies are older than dinosaurs.
Ancient dragonflies were giant. Some were 17 inches long with wingspans of 30 inches!
Damselflies look like dragonflies. There are easy ways to tell them apart. Damselflies fold their wings together when they rest. Dragonfly wings stay stretched out. Damselflies also have space between their large eyes.
Water pollution is dangerous to dragonflies since they spend most of their life in the water.
Dragonflies have special meanings all over the world. Native American tribes believed dragonflies were “snake doctors” who healed hurt snakes.
In Japan, a dragonfly is a symbol of autumn.
Some species of dragonflies migrate when the seasons change.
A globe skimmer dragonfly can migrate up 11,000 miles, even across oceans.
And we’ve made it. I hope these 25 dragonfly facts for kids will spark great conversations about insects and nature. If you’re still looking for more nature-based conversation starters, check out facts about spiders and bees.