Top 10 Largest Dragonflies: A Colorful Journey Through Species

There are more than 7,000 species of dragonfly in the order Odonata. Dragonflies have long, slender bodies, two pairs of transparent wings, huge compound eyes, and six legs. They can be found in a wide range of vibrant colors. Despite their dainty appearance, dragonflies are lethal predators and agile aerial acrobats, able to fly forward, backward, and hover. Although modern dragonflies can’t compete with the 2-foot wingspans of their prehistoric ancestors, some dragonflies can grow quite large. Keep reading to learn about the 10 largest dragonflies on Earth, measured by body length and wingspan.

#10: Brown Hawker

Brown hawkers (Aeshna grandis) are found throughout Europe but are particularly widespread across the U.K. They are easily recognized by their chocolate brown colored bodies and bronze wings. Females have a few yellow markings on their abdomen, while males have blue and yellow markings. The best time to see them is from late June to September.  

Brown hawkers reach lengths of around 2.87 inches with wingspans of around 4 inches. They are typically found in still or slow-flowing lakes, marshes, and canals with plenty of vegetation. They can often be seen flying through woodland areas far from their breeding areas. These dragonflies are extremely territorial and fiercely defend their territory against any intruders.

#9: Common Hawker

The common hawker (Aeshna juncea) is widespread across most of Europe and North America. It can reach a length of 2.9 inches with a wingspan of up to 3.7 inches. Also known as the moorland dragonfly, they are usually found on moors and woodland areas near small pools of water. Common hawkers tend to stay close to their breeding areas searching for prey.

Male common hawkers have dark blue eyes and black bodies with blue spots and yellow patches. Females have brown eyes and yellow spots on their bodies. In both males and females, the vein along the edge of their wings is a yellowish color. These dragonflies are best seen from June to October. 

#8: Golden-Ringed Dragonfly

The golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) is found predominantly in the U.K. Males are normally around 2.9 inches, but females may grow as long as 3.1 inches due to their ovipositor, making them the longest dragonflies in the U.K. They have a wingspan of around 3.9 inches. Golden-ringed dragonflies have green eyes and black bodies with yellow bands.

Preferring to live near rivers and streams, the larger female lays her eggs in shallow water where the larvae blend in with the silt on the bottom. Golden-ringed dragonflies are capable of flying at great heights and feed mainly on small insects. They are best seen from May through September.

#7: Common Green Darner

The common green darner (Anax junius) is widespread across North America and may migrate south as far as Panama. It can also be found in the West Indies, Hawaii, Tahiti, and China. Unlike other dragonflies, some populations are migratory and are said to winter in the southern U.S., Mexico, and Central America. Common green darners reach lengths of 3 inches with wingspans of 3.5-4 inches. In North America, they are usually seen from spring through fall.

The common green darner is easily identified by its large size and coloration. Both males and females have bright green thoraxes, but males have black abdomens with bright blue markings, while females are a more reddish brown. These dragonflies are usually found around ponds and lakes where the females lay their eggs in the vegetation surrounding the water.

#6: Emperor Dragonfly

The emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator), also known as the blue emperor, is believed to be the largest dragonfly in Europe. It also inhabits Africa and parts of Asia. With lengths of around 3.1 inches and wingspans around 4.1 inches, emperors are easily identified by their size, color, and an abdomen that appears to droop when they are flying.  

Males have a brilliant blue abdomen and a green head, while females are mainly green. Both have a dark stripe down their backs and greenish-blue eyes. Emperor dragonflies are found around ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers. They are known for rarely being still and often even eating their prey while they are flying. They can generally be seen from June through August.

#5: Swamp Darner

The swamp darner (Epiaeschna heros) is widespread across eastern North America. They are one of the few dragonfly species that migrate, spending their winters in the Bahamas and Mexico. At first glance, they appear dark brown, but they actually have a number of thin, lime-green rings on their abdomens. With a length of 3.5 inches and a wingspan of 5 inches, they are known to be a heavy dragonfly that flies more slowly than other species.  

As their name indicates, they are often found around swamps and woodland ponds. The females lay their eggs on wood or leaves near shallow water. When the nymphs hatch, they then crawl into the water. Swamp darners feed on a range of insects and smaller dragonflies, catching their prey as they are flying. They can be found in the summer, typically from May through August.

#4: Coastal Petaltail

The coastal petaltail (Petalura litorea) is an endangered species of dragonfly primarily found in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. Reaching lengths of around 4 inches and wingspans up to 5 inches, they have a distinctive appearance that makes them easily identifiable. Coastal petaltails have wide-set eyes, black heads with yellow spots, and brownish-black bodies with yellow stripes. Males have orange “petaltails” at the end of their bodies to attract females and clasp them during mating.

Coastal petaltails prefer to live in the thick vegetation surrounding swampland. These are particularly unusual dragonflies as, unlike most other species, they lay their eggs in burrows next to a body of water. Their larvae are often at risk from predators, which is one of the reasons why their population is decreasing. Coastal petaltails emerge in late October and can be seen through late January.

#3: Giant Darner

The giant darner (Anax walsinghami) is believed to be the largest dragonfly in North America. They are usually found near ponds, streams, and marshland in southwest America and as far south as Mexico. These dragonflies have a length of up to 4.6 inches and a wingspan of 5 inches. They are most often seen from April through October.

Giant darners are easily identifiable by their green heads and thoraxes, large, blue, metallic spots on their bodies, and clear wings. At first glance, they appear similar to the common green darner. However, they have a much larger abdomen, which appears to curve downward. Giant darners are beneficial because they eat a wide range of pest insects, such as mosquitoes.

#2: Giant Hawker

The giant hawker (Tetracanthagyna plagiata) can be found throughout Southeast Asia. These dragonflies have a body length of up to 4 inches. Females have a much larger wingspan than males, measuring up to 6.49 inches compared to 2.95 inches for males. The giant hawker is believed to be the heaviest living dragonfly species, but this is uncertain, as there are no records of weight.

Giant hawkers have reddish brown heads and thoraxes, with pale bands along the sides. They also have reddish brown abdomens. Females usually have brown patches near their wing tips. Giant hawkers prefer forest streams and swamps, and they lay their eggs in dead wood nearby. These dragonflies can usually be found from March through September.

#1: Giant Petaltail

With a body length of 4.92 inches and a wingspan of up to 6.7 inches, the giant petaltail (Petalura ingentissima) is thought to be the world’s largest dragonfly by wingspan. It is primarily found in coastal areas of Queensland, Australia. They have dark bodies with yellow bands, clear wings, and dark, wide-set, eyes. They are similar in appearance to the coastal petaltail, although males have a black petaltail instead of an orange one.  

Giant petaltails favor wet and boggy areas such as swamps and marshlands. Their larvae are commonly called “pit dwellers” because they live in burrows and usually feed on any passing prey that they can catch. These dragonflies emerge in October and may be present through February.