Dragonfly (species unknown)

Description:

Dragonfly (Odonata Epiprocta Anisoptera) - species unknown - at Okeeheelee Nature Center, West Palm Beach, Florida.

Habitat:

A dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera (from Greek anisos, "uneven" + pteros, "wings", due the hindwing being broader than the forewing). It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body. Dragonflies are similar to damselflies, but the adults can be differentiated by the fact that the wings of most dragonflies are held away from, and perpendicular to, the body when at rest. Dragonflies possess six legs (like any other insect), but most of them cannot walk well. Dragonflies are some of the fastest insects in the world. Dragonflies are valuable predators that eat mosquitoes, and other small insects like flies, bees, ants, wasps, and very rarely butterflies. They are usually found around marshes, lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic. There are more than 5000 species of dragonflies existing in the world today. (credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonfly)