their life cycle and habits

Dragonflies and damselflies are both insects in the order Odonata and are collectively called 'dragonflies' although only those of the sub-order Anisoptera are 'true' dragonflies, while those of the sub-order Zygoptera are the damselflies.

Odonata means 'tooth jaw' and refer to the serrated mouthparts of these insects. Anisoptera means 'unequal-winged' and refers to the fact that true dragonflies have two pairs of wings, the back ones being shorter and broader than the front. They are strong fliers and may be seen at long distances from water. At rest, they usually hold their wings straight out from their bodies. The eyes are very large, and usually touch each other at the center.

Zygoptera means 'yoke-winged' and refers to the fact that damselflies, which also have four wings, usually have all four wings the same shape and size. They fly only weakly, so they are usually seen near water. When at rest, they hold their wings folded back along their bodies.

There are stories that dragonflies only live for one day, but that is not true -- most likely people are confusing stories about mayflies (which may only live a few days in their adult stage, though they live much longer as larvae). Mayflies are not closely related to dragonflies and damselflies, they have only two wings. For some dragonflies, the full life cycle from egg to adult may last as long as 6 or 7 years, though they only live a few months as adults.

Dragonflies start out their lives as eggs, usually laid in the water. These eggs hatch into free swimming larva, sometimes called nymphs, which feed primarily on bloodworms and other aquatic larvae. These nymphs will go through several stages of development, shedding its skin as it grows, until at last (several weeks to several years later, depending on the species) it moults a last time and emerges from the water as an adult dragonfly. The adults eat mostly smaller flying insects, like midges and mosquitoes. Some of the larger species will even eat smaller dragonflies and damselflies.

Although the largest living dragonfly has a wingspan of about 19 cm. (almost 7 1/2 inches) there were prehistoric species living in the Permian Period that had a 75 cm. (nearly 2 1/2 feet) wingspan.

Because dragonflies can be big and scary looking, people assume they bite - but there really is no danger. If you capture one of the larger species it may try to bite, but they don't have the jaw strength to break the skin. And that wicked looking 'stinger' tail is for laying eggs, there is no stinger. It may curve that tail down as if it were trying to sting, but that is really just a reflex action, dragonflies and damselflies can't sting you.