# Dragonhunter (*Hagenius brevistylus*) The Dragonhunter is a special dragonfly that loves to fly around water. It has beautiful wings and is known for its amazing speed and agility as it catches other insects in the air. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Dragonhunter](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dragonhunter.jpg&width=800) Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dragonhunter.jpg) ## Appearance The Dragonhunter is a large, striking dragonfly with a black body marked boldly with yellow stripes and spots. Its clear wings have dark brown leading edges, and males feature a distinctive, club-shaped abdomen, making them easily identifiable among other dragonflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Gomphidae - **Genus:** Hagenius ## Interesting facts - An adult Dragonhunter can eat hundreds of pesky mosquitoes and flies daily! - Dragonflies were among the very first winged insects to evolve on Earth! - Dragonhunter nymphs live underwater for years before becoming flying adults! - They get their name by actually preying on other large, flying dragonflies! ## Special abilities - **Hunter's Gaze:** Dragonhunter can see prey from almost any direction because of their huge, multi-faceted compound eyes that cover most of their head. - **Aerial Acrobatics:** Dragonhunter can dart, hover, and fly backwards due to four powerful, independently moving wings, making them expert aerial hunters. - **Spiky Net Legs:** Dragonhunter has spiny legs that form a basket, allowing them to scoop and hold insects right out of the air while flying. - **Underwater Ambush:** Dragonhunter larvae can breathe underwater using internal gills and ambush prey with an extendable jaw, surviving for years as nymphs. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 100-130 mm - **Size:** 70-85 mm - **Lifespan:** 730-1825 days - **Flight Speed:** 35-58 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Dragonhunters are ferocious insect hunters, eating many flying bugs and even other dragonflies! - **Age differences:** Nymphs eat aquatic invertebrates and small fish; adults eat flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** Mosquitos, Flies, Moths, Other dragonflies, Damselflies, Butterflies - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Common Green Darner](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-green-darner) (*Anax junius*) — Dragonhunters are known to hunt other large dragonflies. - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Adult Dragonhunters consume numerous mosquitoes, helping control their populations. - **Eats:** [Bluegill](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bluegill) (*Lepomis macrochirus*) — Fish like bluegills prey on Dragonhunter nymphs in aquatic environments. - **Eats:** [Eastern Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-kingbird) (*Tyrannus tyrannus*) — Birds, such as kingbirds, are predators of adult Dragonhunters. ## Traits - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be gentle around insects and watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Dragonhunter? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Dragonhunter's wingspan? 100-130 mm ### How big is Dragonhunter? 70-85 mm ### How long does Dragonhunter live? 730-1825 days ### How fast can Dragonhunter fly? 35-58 km/h ### What does Dragonhunter eat? Dragonhunters are ferocious insect hunters, eating many flying bugs and even other dragonflies! ### Where is Dragonhunter usually found? Wetlands ### How does Dragonhunter hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Chatham Arch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chatham-arch) — Indiana, US · Neighborhood - [Market Square](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/market-square) — Tennessee, US · Historic District - [Blackacre Nature Preserve and Historic Homestead](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackacre-nature-preserve-and-historic-homestead) — Kentucky, US · Nature Reserve - [Golden Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/golden-hill-historic-district) — Indiana, US · Historic District - [Harrisville Rural District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harrisville-rural-district) — New Hampshire, US · Historic District - [Historic Meridian Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/historic-meridian-park) — Indiana, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see Dragonhunter](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/dragonhunter) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Dragonhunter: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dragonhunter)