Dragonflies stamp catalogue

547 items

All animals from the order Odonata are considered dragonflies in this section, so both the true dragonflies and the damselflies. There are over 6000 known species of dragonflies.
Dragonflies are recognizable by their long, narrow abdomen, large wings, movable head and large eyes. They are predators that catch insects in flight. They are fast air acrobats with good eyesight. Their legs are also adapted to have a good grip on their prey. Real dragonflies cannot fold their wings and hold them straight next to their body. Damselflies are often able to fold their wings along their long abdomen when at rest.
During mating, the male bends his abdomen and grabs the female by the neck. In turn, the female bends her abdomen upwards along the underside to the place where the male's sperm packet is stored. This position is called the mating wheel and, with a little imagination, has the shape of a love heart.
The eggs are often laid in water. The larvae live aquatically and are real predators, with large jaws. They catch water animals and can even catch tadpoles and small fish. Once they are fully grown, which can sometimes take several years, they crawl out of the water via a water plant. Here they molt for the last time, the so-called hatching. The now adult and winged animal must first dry and pump up its wings before it can fly. The empty skins remain behind and are often easy to find.

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Number of stamps

547

Number of related items

Oldest item

Banded demoiselle (1951)