Dragonflies are among the planet's most ancient inhabitants, first appearing approximately 300 million years ago.

Over the millennia, they’ve mastered the skills of hunting, flying, and surviving impressively long lifespans—at least by insect standards.

One of their standout abilities is flying backward, a trick that proves especially useful when chasing down flies and mosquitoes. Here are eight fascinating facts that might just change the way you view these extraordinary, ancient, and remarkably diverse creatures.

1. Dragonflies Are Masters of Midair Hunting

Dragonflies are the ultimate aerial predators if you're a mosquito, gnat, or other small insect. Instead of simply chasing their prey, they execute precise aerial ambushes. Dragonflies can calculate the speed and trajectory of their target, adjusting their flight path to intercept in midair. With an astonishing hunting success rate of up to 97%, these predators are nothing short of terrifying—at least for bugs.

2. Their Mandibles Are Razor-Sharp

Dragonflies belong to the order Odonata, meaning toothed ones a nod to their serrated mandibles. They catch prey with their feet, tear off its wings with their sharp jaws to prevent escape, and devour it—all without landing. Fortunately, most dragonflies aren’t capable of biting humans. Only a few larger species can bite, and even then, only in self-defense.

3. Dragonflies Are Aerial Acrobats

Dragonflies are among nature’s best fliers. With two pairs of wings powered by independent muscles in their thorax, they can maneuver with stunning agility. This allows them to fly forward, backward, sideways, or hover in place for over a minute. Their skill gives them a massive advantage when hunting—they can approach prey from any direction.

4. Their Eyes Are Astonishingly Complex

A dragonfly’s head is mostly dominated by its enormous compound eyes, which contain around 30,000 facets. These eyes provide nearly 360-degree vision, with just a small blind spot directly behind them.

5. Dragonflies Spend Years Underwater

Dragonflies start life underwater. After their eggs are laid in water, the larvae (nymphs) hatch and remain underwater for up to two years—or even up to six years in some species depending on the climate.

6. Some Thrive in Saltwater

Most insects avoid saltwater, but some dragonflies are exceptions. Species like the seaside dragonlet (Erythrodiplax berenicei) can lay eggs in environments even saltier than seawater. This makes them unique in North America, as their habitats include salt marshes, mangroves, and saline lakes.

7. Dragonflies Are Allies to Humans

These insects are incredibly beneficial to people, especially when it comes to controlling pest populations. A single dragonfly can consume 30 to hundreds of mosquitoes in a single day.

8. They’re Celebrated in Sanctuaries Worldwide

Dragonfly sanctuaries play a crucial role in protecting these ancient insects from threats like habitat loss and pollution. The U.K. opened its first dragonfly sanctuary, the Dragonfly Center, in 2009. In the U.S., the Dragonfly Sanctuary Pond in Albuquerque, New Mexico, offers a haven for a diverse range of dragonfly and damselfly species.