Any of numerous insects of the order Odonata, including the damselfly. They all have long narrow bodies, two pairs of almost equal-sized, glassy wings with a network of veins; short, bristlelike antennae; powerful, “toothed” mouthparts; and very large compound eyes which may have up to 30,000 facets. They hunt other insects by sight, both as adults and as aquatic nymphs.
The largest species have a wingspan of 18 cm/7 in, but fossils related to dragonflies with wings up to 70 cm/2.3 ft across have been found.
Slender-bodied non-stinging insect having iridescent wings that are outspread at rest; adults and nymphs feed on mosquitoes etc.; SYN. snake doctor, mosquito hawk, skeeter hawk. dragon-fly