Engineers find dragonfly eyes, wings, sensors worthy of study
July 16, 2026
By Mary Hightower
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Dragonflies process visual information more quickly than humans
- Zawislak: Dragonflies are among the most efficient predators on Earth
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The ancient advantages of an insect whose ancestors predated the dinosaurs are inspiring advances in sensor and flight engineering, said Jon Zawislak, assistant professor of apiculture and urban entomology for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
“As a group, dragonflies are incredible examples of bioengineering,” he said. “Nature has already solved so many problems, and scientists and engineers often study insects to mimic what nature has overcome.”
Dragonflies are a common sight across Arkansas in warm weather. Observers have reported 87 species to iNaturalist, but Zawislak said there were probably 100 or more species in Arkansas.
An order with some teeth
Dragonflies and the similarly needle-like damselflies are both within the insect order Odonata. While both have similar habits, dragonflies rest with their wings stretched out to the sides, while most damselflies rest with their wings folded back against their bodies.
“Just like an orthodontist works with teeth, Odonata as a name comes from the strong chewing mandibles of dragonflies and damselflies,” said Austin Jones, instructor and director of undergraduate education and outreach coordinator with the Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas.
“This is one of only two orders of insects known to be comprised exclusively of predators, and therefore considered beneficial unless they are eating other beneficial insects like pollinators,” he said. The other is the order Mantodea, home to praying mantises.
The earliest ancestors of the dragonfly took to the air approximately 300 million years ago, Zawislak said. The fossil record shows they were shaped much like today’s version except they had wingspans of up to 2.5 feet.
“They are ancient creatures, who successfully survived the Permian extinction, the breakup of Pangaea and the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs,” Zawislak said. “They were predated by a separate and now extinct order called Meganisoptera, which was closely related to Odonata.”
Engineering marvels
“The way dragonflies use their wings is studied to model to small flying drones that can hover, fly backwards or maneuver more efficiently,” Zawislak said. “They also have many tiny sensors on their wings and bodies, to measure strain, orientation, flight speed — all things that engineers want to copy.”
And it’s not just the wings.
“Their massive compound eyes constantly take in a huge array of visual input, which is processed in their tiny brains,” he said. “They view the world at about 200 frames per second, compared to humans who see at about 60 frames per second, preventing motion blur when they are flying so fast.
“They can also track the horizon and levels of light intensity, which are being studied to create sensors for aircraft and other applications,” Zawislak said.
“All of these aspects help make them apex predators of the insect world. This also makes them difficult to catch or to photograph in flight,” he said.
As hunters, they have few peers.
“They hunt using predictive interception,” Zawislak said. “Rather than just chasing a mosquito from behind, they track the prey's movement with their compound eyes, calculate its trajectory, and flies to where the prey will be in a few milliseconds.
“They boast around a 95 percent success rate in hunting, making them among the most efficient predators on Earth,” he said.
Life cycle
Unlike many other insects, dragonflies skip the pupal stage, metamorphosing from aquatic nymphs, or naiads, to aerial adults.
Eggs are deposited in or near water, hatching into voracious underwater nymphs, which spend months to several years — depending on species — hunting prey and molting multiple times, Zawislak said.
“Once mature, the nymph climbs out of the water for a final molt, shedding its skin to emerge as a winged adult focused entirely on mating and aerial hunting during its brief few weeks of life above water,” he said.
Jones said the nymphs have unique adaptations for life in the water.
“Dragonfly nymphs breathe through gills inside their abdomens,” he said. “When in need of quick movement, they can propel themselves by squeezing out water rearward for jet propulsion.”
Although they might be seen feeding in swarms, they’re solitary creatures, likely “taking advantage of a large cloud of gnats or other food they may have found,” Zawislak said.
“They eat a lot of mosquitos and gnats and other pesky things, but they also will feed on bees and other beneficials,” he said. “Nymphs consume a lot of mosquito larvae but can also catch tadpoles and small fish.”
However, predation can go both ways, Zawislak said.
“Birds, lizards, snakes and spider also enjoy feeding on them, as they can be a sizeable meal, as far as insects go,” he said.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land-grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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