A dragonfly is a flying insect with a long, slender body and two pairs of large, transparent wings that shimmer in the sunlight. If you've ever seen one hovering perfectly still over a pond or suddenly darting away at incredible speed, you've witnessed one of nature's most skillful fliers.

Dragonflies are extraordinary hunters. They can fly forward, backward, and even hover in place like a helicopter. Their huge eyes, which cover most of their head, can spot tiny insects from far away. Scientists have discovered that dragonflies catch about 95% of the prey they chase, making them more successful hunters than lions or sharks.

These insects spend most of their lives underwater as nymphs, living in ponds and streams where they hunt small fish and tadpoles. After a year or two, they crawl out of the water, their skin splits open, and the adult dragonfly emerges with crumpled wings that gradually expand and harden. Adult dragonflies might live only a few weeks or months, but they spend that time patrolling the water where they were born, catching mosquitoes and other small flying insects.

People sometimes confuse dragonflies with damselflies, their smaller cousins, but dragonflies rest with their wings spread out, while damselflies fold their wings together above their backs.