# Hairy Dragonfly (*Brachytron pratense*) The Hairy Dragonfly is a beautiful insect with big, colorful wings. It loves to fly around ponds and lakes, catching small bugs to eat. Watch it zoom and dart through the air! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Hairy Dragonfly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/BrachytronPratenseMale.jpg&width=800) Photo: Christian Fischer, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BrachytronPratenseMale.jpg) ## Appearance The Hairy Dragonfly is a medium-sized insect with a notably fuzzy, yellowish-brown body that gives it its name. Its abdomen has distinct yellow and black markings, and its four clear wings often have a slight amber tint near the base. Unlike many other dragonflies, its hairy thorax is a key distinguishing feature. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Aeshnidae - **Genus:** Brachytron ## Interesting facts - Baby Hairy Dragonflies live underwater for 2-3 years before they transform into flying adults! - Hairy Dragonflies are one of the first dragonflies you'll spot in spring, even in cooler weather! - Their huge eyes have tens of thousands of lenses, giving them super sharp, almost 360-degree vision! - These speedy hunters can catch mosquitoes and other flies right out of the air while zooming! ## Special abilities - **Warm Coat Power:** Hairy Dragonflies have a fuzzy body that helps them stay warm enough to fly quickly, even on cooler days, making them active earlier than others. - **Underwater Hunter:** Hairy Dragonfly larvae can blend into underwater plants, hiding from prey and predators with their camouflaged bodies and stealthy movements. - **Aerial Acrobatics:** Hairy Dragonflies can hover, fly backward, and change direction instantly thanks to their four powerful wings that move independently. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 70-80 mm - **Size:** 55-60 mm - **Lifespan:** 730-1095 days - **Flight Speed:** 25 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These swift hunters eat other insects, catching them mid-flight or snatching them from plants. - **Age differences:** Larvae are aquatic predators, eating small invertebrates; adults hunt flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, midges, flies, gnats, small moths - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Adults expertly snatch them mid-air. - **Eaten by:** [Common Kingfisher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-kingfisher) (*Alcedo atthis*) — Larvae and adults are prey for birds. - **Eaten by:** [European Perch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-perch) (*Perca fluviatilis*) — Larvae are a food source for fish. - **Hunts:** Common Midge (*Chironomus plumosus*) — Adults eat these small flying insects. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [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. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [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 Dragonflies are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hairy Dragonfly? 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 Hairy Dragonfly's wingspan? 70-80 mm ### How big is Hairy Dragonfly? 55-60 mm ### How long does Hairy Dragonfly live? 730-1095 days ### How fast can Hairy Dragonfly fly? 25 km/h ### What does Hairy Dragonfly eat? These swift hunters eat other insects, catching them mid-flight or snatching them from plants. ### Where is Hairy Dragonfly usually found? Wetlands ### How does Hairy Dragonfly hunt? Pursuit ## 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: [Hairy Dragonfly: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hairy-dragonfly)