Dragonflies and their nymphs are voracious predators. They hunt by sight, detecting prey by its movement. Nymphs need food to grow large enough to transform to adults. They don’t use a lot of energy foraging, so most of what they eat is converted into body tissues. Adults do not grow, but they must build up reserves for breeding. Dragonflies can double their weight as they pass from teneral to mature adult, growing larger flight muscles and storing fat. Adults convert some of their food to body tissues, and to eggs and sperm, but most is turned into energy for flight.

Nymphs catch prey with their labium, a modified lower lip that shoots out with lightning speed. The labium holds prey firmly as the jaws tear it apart. Nymphs of some species crawl through aquatic plants looking for prey. Others wait in ambush, lying hidden in mud or clinging to plants or rocks.

(Animation to the left shows the labium in action in slow motion.)

Dragonflies are aerial hunters that catch and eat other flying insects. Small prey can be caught directly in their jaws or they can use their spiny legs like a basket to snare insects. When larger prey is caught, dragonflies usually perch somewhere to eat it, but smaller prey can be eaten in flight.

Dragonflies are opportunistic hunters and will take whatever prey is available, but each species hunts in its own way. Some, like many Darners (Aeshnidae), spend much of each day flying, searching for food. Others spend more time perched, waiting for prey to fly by. Many Clubtails (Gomphidae) perch on the ground, while many Skimmers (Libelluidae) perch on low vegetation. Species will differ in the time of day when they hunt (daytime or dusk), where they hunt (forest, meadow or marsh) and what they hunt (large or small insects). Some, especially damselflies, will snatch insects off the ground or from vegetation.

Watch some dragonflies chowin' down!
(Video = 0:23, 0.7 Mb.)

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Nymphs are eaten by many animals, including other aquatic insects, fish and turtles. They are eaten by other nymphs, too! Dragonflies are food for birds, frogs, spiders and other predatory insects. Mass emergences of dragonflies along lake or river shores can offer a banquet for predators. Large dragonflies often eat smaller dragonflies! People eat dragonflies, too. In some Asian cultures dragonflies are considered delicacies.

A common parasite of both adults and nymphs are water mites, tiny round relatives of ticks. Mites feed on the body fluids of nymphs, then transfer to the adult as it emerges and continue feeding.

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