# Little Blue Dragonlet (*Erythrodiplax minuscula*) The Little Blue Dragonlet is a tiny dragonfly with beautiful blue wings. They love to flutter around near water and are often seen resting on plants. Their small size makes them special and easy to spot! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Little Blue Dragonlet](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Erythrodiplax_minuscula_%28Flickr%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: leppyone, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erythrodiplax_minuscula_%28Flickr%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Little Blue Dragonlet is a tiny dragonfly, typically bright, iridescent blue on its body, especially males. Its clear wings have a dark spot called a stigma, and its legs are often yellowish. Females can appear more brownish-yellow. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Erythrodiplax ## Interesting facts - A Little Blue Dragonlet nymph lives underwater for months, then sheds its skin to fly! - Dragonflies are ancient insects; their ancestors flew the Earth over 300 million years ago! - Dragonflies form a heart-shaped 'mating wheel' in mid-air, a unique way to reproduce! - Its underwater babies, called nymphs, can breathe through gills inside their bottom! ## Special abilities - **360 Vision:** Little Blue Dragonlets have huge compound eyes that provide almost 360-degree vision, helping them spot tiny prey and avoid predators. - **Aerial Acrobats:** Little Blue Dragonlets can hover, fly backward, and change direction instantly because of their powerful, independently moving wings. - **Mid-Air Trapper:** Little Blue Dragonlets can snatch flying insects right out of the air using their spiky legs, acting like a net. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 35-45 mm - **Size:** 20-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 28-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 28 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding They are swift aerial hunters, feasting on small flying insects they catch mid-air. - **Age differences:** Nymphs hunt aquatic insect larvae and small aquatic invertebrates underwater. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, midges, flies, small moths, gnats - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Mosquito (*Anopheles quadrimaculatus*) — Keeps mosquito populations in check. - **Eaten by:** [American Bullfrog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bullfrog) (*Lithobates catesbeianus*) — Bullfrogs prey on adult dragonflies near water. - **Eaten by:** [Largemouth Bass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/largemouth-bass) (*Micropterus salmoides*) — Large fish eat dragonlet nymphs in the water. ## 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. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [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. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [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 and quiet around dragonflies so you don't scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Little Blue Dragonlet? 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 Little Blue Dragonlet's wingspan? 35-45 mm ### How big is Little Blue Dragonlet? 20-25 mm ### How long does Little Blue Dragonlet live? 28-60 days ### How fast can Little Blue Dragonlet fly? 28 km/h ### What does Little Blue Dragonlet eat? They are swift aerial hunters, feasting on small flying insects they catch mid-air. ### Where is Little Blue Dragonlet usually found? Wetlands ### How does Little Blue Dragonlet 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: [Little Blue Dragonlet: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/little-blue-dragonlet)