A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the infraorder Anisoptera below the order Odonata. About 3,000 extant species of dragonflies are known. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Loss of wetland habitat threatens dragonfly populations around the world. Adult dragonflies are characterised by a pair of large, multifaceted, compound eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches, and an elongated body. Many dragonflies have brilliant iridescent or metallic colours produced by structural coloration, making them conspicuous in flight. An adult dragonfly's compound eyes have nearly 24,000 ommatidia each.
Aeshnidae, also called aeshnids, hawkers, or darners, is a family of dragonflies, found nearly worldwide, with more than 50 genera and over 450 species.
The emperor dragonfly or blue emperor is a large species of hawker dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae. It is the largest dragonfly in most of Europe, including the United Kingdom, although exceeded in some areas by other species.
Motion camouflage is camouflage which provides a degree of concealment for a moving object, given that motion makes objects easy to detect however well their coloration matches their background or breaks up their outlines.
Diplacodes haematodes, the scarlet percher, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It occurs throughout Australia, Timor, New Guinea, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. It is locally common in habitats with hot sunny exposed sites at or near rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. It often prefers to settle on hot rocks rather than twigs or leaves, and is quite wary. This is a spectacular species of dragonfly, although small in size. The male is brilliant red, the female yellow-ochre. Females have yellow infuscation suffusing the outer wings, while the males have similar colour at the bases of the wings.
Tholymis tillarga, the coral-tailed cloudwing, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is found from tropical West Africa to Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands. Common names include old world twister, evening skimmer, crepuscular darter, foggy-winged twister and twister.
Orthetrum caledonicum, the blue skimmer, is a common Australian dragonfly in the family Libellulidae.
Petalura ingentissima, the giant petaltail, has been described as the world's largest dragonfly, with a wingspan of 160 mm. It is found in Queensland, Australia.
Anax guttatus, the pale-spotted emperor or lesser green emperor, is a dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae.
Orthetrum sabina, the slender skimmer or green marsh hawk, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is widespread, being found from south-eastern Europe and North Africa to Japan and south to Australia and Micronesia.
The golden-ringed dragonfly is a large, striking species of dragonfly found widely in Europe and locally in northwestern Africa, especially near flowing waters like streams. It is the longest British species of dragonfly, and the only member of its genus to be found in the United Kingdom.
Petalura litorea, commonly known as the coastal petaltail, is an endangered Australian species of dragonfly from the family Petaluridae.
Anax is a genus of dragonflies in the family Aeshnidae. It includes species such as the emperor dragonfly, Anax imperator.
The Australian emerald is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It can be found in Australia, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Lesser Sunda Islands and New Zealand. It is a small to medium-sized, long-legged dragonfly coloured black-metallic and yellow. In both males and females the inboard edge of the hindwing is rounded.
Rhyothemis graphiptera, known as the graphic flutterer or banded flutterer, is a species of dragonfly of the family Libellulidae. It is found across northern Australia, the Moluccas, New Guinea and New Caledonia. Rhyothemis extends from Africa to the western Pacific.
Procordulia jacksoniensis is a species of dragonfly in the family Corduliidae, known as the eastern swamp emerald. It inhabits rivers, pools and lakes in eastern Australia, from Brisbane through New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, and around Adelaide in South Australia.
Anaciaeschna jaspidea is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae, commonly known as the Australasian duskhawker and Rusty darner. It is widely distributed from India through Australia to the Pacific.
Anax gibbosulus is a species of large dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae, commonly known as the green emperor. It inhabits swamps and brackish waters from India through northern Australia to the Pacific.
Anax georgius is a species of large dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae, commonly known as the Kimberley emperor. It inhabits ponds in the Kimberley area of Western Australia
Synthemis eustalacta is a species of dragonfly in the family Synthemistidae, known as the swamp tigertail. It is found in south-eastern Australia, where it inhabits streams and rivers. It is a slender, medium-sized dragonfly with black and yellow markings.
