Dragonflies of Camargue
The Camargue is home to a great diversity of dragonflies. Dragonflies belong to an insect order known as Odonata. This order comprises approximately 6,000 species and subspecies worldwide. Only 85 species breed in France.
Odonates are an order of insects—often referred to as dragonflies—characterized by elongated bodies and two pairs of generally transparent, membranous wings. Their large compound eyes enable them to hunt prey effectively. Their larvae develop in water, eventually metamorphosing into flying insects known as "imagos" during the warmer months.
However, the order Odonata comprises two suborders: Zygoptera and Anisoptera:
Thus, among damselflies or Zygoptera we distinguish :
Dragonflies belong to the class Insecta; they therefore possess a rigid exoskeleton. They have six segmented legs, and their bodies are divided into three main parts: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. The mobile head features two large compound eyes and three simple eyes, known as ocelli.
Dragonflies have two pairs of transparent wings and three pairs of legs attached to the thorax. Their wings feature a network of veins and a pattern unique to each species. The thorax is tilted upwards, positioning the legs forward to form a sort of basket for catching flying insects. Long spines on the legs facilitate the capture of prey in mid-air. The thorax houses the powerful wing muscles.
DRAGONFLIES
Order : Odonata
Family : Anisoptera
Living environments
Wetlands are absolutely essential for the lives of dragonflies: temporary freshwater or brackish ponds, marshes, and ditches lined with rushes and vegetation.
Natural role
By feeding on insect larvae and adults, such as mosquitoes, dragonflies play an essential role in controlling these insect populations. Their presence contributes to the balance of aquatic ecosystems.
Dragonflies are voracious predators that consume large quantities of mosquitoes and insects every day. With a success rate of around 95%, dragonflies rank among the most efficient predators in the animal kingdom. They catch their prey in mid-air, demonstrating remarkable hunting abilities.
Flight
A dragonfly flies using four independent yet synchronized wings attached to powerful thoracic muscles. It is capable of various flight modes, ranging from gliding and rapid flapping to hovering and backward flight. It can reach speeds of 36 to 60 km/h.
Dragonfly gallery
The Dragonfly's Eyes
The dragonfly has five eyes: two large compound eyes and three simple eyes called ocelli. The compound eyes are the two very large eyes. 
These compound eyes cover a large part of the head and provide panoramic vision. Each eye is made up of thousands of tiny lenses and offers 360-degree vision. The three simple eyes, or ocelli, are smaller. With an average of 15,000 facets per eye—up to 30,000 in the largest ones—dragonflies possess exceptional vision that leaves little respite for the other insects they prey upon.
Their field of vision is close to 360 degrees, thanks to the round shape of their eyes and their highly mobile neck. They perceive around 200 images per second, compared to 60 for humans—giving them ultra-fast detection capabilities, which explains why it is nearly impossible for us to catch them. They possess numerous color receptors (ranging from over 10 to 30, depending on the species), whereas humans have only three. They are capable of spotting moving prey from up to 50 meters away.
Active period
Dragonflies are mainly visible from spring (April–May) until late autumn (November).
Breeding
Dragonfly mating is a spectacular sight. The male grasps the female behind the head using special appendages at the tip of his abdomen; the pair is said to be in the "tandem" position. The female then curves her abdomen to meet the male's body, forming a mating wheel, and copulation takes place. In Anisoptera (true dragonflies), this lasts only a few seconds, whereas in Zygoptera (damselflies), the mating wheel can be maintained for over six hours.
After mating, the dragonflies separate, and the female lays her eggs—with the male standing guard in some species. Most species lay their eggs individually among tangled aquatic plants; some insert their eggs directly into plant tissue, while others simply drop them into the water or onto damp ground.
The dragonfly life cycle comprises three main stages: the egg, the larva (living in water), and the imago (the flying adult). Their lives are thus divided between a long aquatic phase and a brief aerial existence.
Calopteryx Gallery
Threats
The disappearance of wetlands is driving a decline in dragonflies, according to the first global assessment of these species published today in an update to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Their decline is symptomatic of the widespread loss of the marshes, swamps, and wild rivers where they breed.
The dragonfly's main natural predators are insectivorous birds. At the larval stage, fish and amphibians are their primary enemies.
In the Camargue, I often see European Bee-eaters with a dragonfly in their beaks. I have also managed to photograph a kingfisher with a dragonfly larva in its beak.
Damselfly Gallery
Protection
Certain dragonfly species are protected in France and/or Europe. These species are covered by the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), which has applied to European Union countries since June 5, 1994.
The list of protected species can be viewed on the website of the Dynamic Atlas of Odonata of France.
In the Crau Plain, one site is subject to special protection: the "Vergière Canal" (access is restricted). This canal is the richest site in France for odonates. Forty-six species can be observed along it—despite it being less than 2 meters wide—over a stretch of approximately 500 meters.
If you wish to observe dragonflies, look for wetland areas, preferably with unpolluted freshwater and abundant aquatic vegetation.
Informations documentations :
Observation Sites