What do dragonflies eat? They were among the very first winged insects to evolve over 300 million years ago! Shares. the food will them be carried to a perch where it is eaten. Birds (including hobbies and wagtails), spiders, and frogs all eat dragonflies as part of their diet. The aquatic nymphs eat just about anything that moves, from worms and small crustaceans, to frog tadpoles and small fish, to each other. Understanding what dragonflies eat is beneficial. By Joseph Castro 08 February 2014. Adult dragonflies eat other flying insects, including mosquitoes, deerflies, horseflies, wasps, bees, butterflies, other dragonflies, pretty much anything that … What Enemies Do Dragonflies Have? Despite popular opinion, only the females feed on blood, which they use to aid in reproduction. They will also take butterflies and even smaller dragonflies. Welcome to The Dragonfly Website! What do Horse Flies Eat? The larvae are predatory and sometimes cannibalistic. Dragonflies are not a bad species of insect to have in a yard -- they do no harm to humans, and their presence is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Dragonflies; Dragonflies need a significant intake of food each day. A wide variety of insects are included in their diet preferences. Because dragonflies consume 10-15% of their weight in other insects each day, it is hard to imagine the amount of work involved. Animal Sex: How Dragonflies Do It. Overall, adult horseflies prefer nectar and are actually vital for the survival of certain plants. 11 ) Dragonflies, which eat insects as adults, are a great control on the mosquito population. Dragonflies belong to the order Odonata, characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, and an elongated body. A: They are all predators. What Do Dragonflies Eat? Not only do mature dragonflies feed on horseflies, but their larvae (those of dragonflies) are also attacked and fed on by dragonfly nymphs. Adult dragon flies eat gnats, mayflies, flies, mosquitoes and sometimes butterflies as well as bees. Dragonflies can reach speeds of up to 35 miles an hour and fly just as gracefully backward by lifting off vertically, helicopter style. Parasitoid Wasps A single dragonfly can eat … It's easy to be fascinated by dragonflies. But, being able to grasp their hunting methods could prove useful as well. They are also known to eat horseflies and deer flies. In addition, larger dragonflies may also eat smaller ones, as mentioned earlier, meaning that a larger dragonfly would be the enemy … This includes horseflies. Even though males pose no threat, the risk … Dragonfly sex is a very conspicuous event, easily recognized by the heart-shaped "wheel" formation of mating pairs. Many species of dragonfly exist. As with any insect, dragonflies have several enemies. They will also eat bees, butterflies, and even other dragonflies. Dragonflies eat other insects, such as flies, midges and mosquitoes. 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