FAST FACTS Dragonflies

How many: Approximately 4,870 species of Odonata are known, and members of the order are found in all temperate and tropical regions of the world.
Wingspans: Most Temperate Zone species of dragonflies have wingspreads of 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in), but tropical species may reach 20 cm (8 in). The
Largest known dragonfly lived in the Carboniferous period and had a wingspread of 61 m (24 in).
Descriptions: Damselflies are generally smaller and weaker in flight than the true dragonflies. Both types are known by popular names such as darning needle, devil's darning needle, snake feeder, snake doctor, and mosquito hawk.
Misc.: According to the Ohio Odonata Survey County Species List (http://mcnet.marietta.edu/~odonata/counties), 46 species of dragonflies have been collected in Mahoning County, 60 species in Trumbull County, 54 in Columbiana County, 70 in Ashtabula County and 91 in Portage County.