Do Dragonflies Eat Tree Leaves?

Adult Diet

• Adult dragonflies eat insects. They are generalist feeders, consuming any small insect they find in abundance. Some dragonflies, such as the dragonhunter (Hagenius brevistylus), are big enough to dine on other dragonflies and large insects. Most dragonflies eat mosquitoes, flies, gnats and flying ants or termites. A penchant for consuming insects that gardeners consider pests make dragonflies a welcome addition to backyards and gardens. They pose no threat at all to plants or to people since they neither bite nor sting.

Dragonfly Nymphs

• Dragonflies spend most of their lives as aquatic invertebrates. Even as nymphs, these insects prey on any animal they can catch and hold. Mayfly and caddis fly larvae, aquatic worms, freshwater shrimp and similar creatures are table fare for dragonfly nymphs. Lacking the anatomy to be strong swimmers, dragonfly nymphs are well equipped to scour the bottoms of streams and ponds or probe aquatic plants in search of prey.

Damselflies

• Damselflies (Odonata zygoptera) are closely related to dragonflies, and look very similar to them. One difference is that, when resting, damselflies typically hold their wings to the side and above their heads while dragonflies keep their wings straight out to the sides. Like dragonflies, damselflies are swift hunters that prey on smaller insects and flies. Damselflies are often found near water, including around backyard ponds or water features.

Dragonflies and Plants

• While dragonflies spend much of their time flying while chasing insect prey, they sometimes land on a tree leaf or other part of a plant. These landings are often for rest and to scan the surroundings for food. Dragonflies might also perch on a leaf in order to consume a catch, especially if the prey was a large insect. Since they eat ants, a dragonfly often makes a quick meal of ants occupying a leaf. Many of these behaviors resemble those of an insect devouring plant material rather than insects.