Juanita Browne: Learn how to identify our amazing Irish dragonflies and damselflies

Dragonflies and damselfies are the 'jewels' of insects

A close-up of a male Common Darter resting on a piece of wood. The wood retains the heat as the sun sets and dragonflies rest there for warmth.

If you visit a wetland between now and September, you should keep your eyes peeled for our ‘jewels’ of insects — the beautiful, brightly coloured dragonflies and damselflies.

These really are the most charismatic and intriguing of our insects. They have been around for 320 million years — both before and long after the dinosaurs disappeared. Their excellent body design — and engineer’s dream — hasn’t changed in all that time, except for their size. The largest dragonflies that once ruled the skies, before flying dinosaurs and birds, had a wingspan of 70cm, the same as a small hawk!