Dragonflies belong to the order ‘Odonata’ and suborder ‘Epiprocta’. They have eyes that are so large, they allow them to see nearly everywhere except directly behind them. They also have a strong transparent wings helps it live in its daily life. Dragonflies have 6 legs but do not walk well. They are one of the fastest flying insects in the world. Their wingspan is usually only 2-5 inches. In the larvae stage, dragonflies live in water and break out of their exoskeleton. Dragonflies are harmless but catch all their prey (and food) while flying, so they will starve if they cannot fly. They can travel up to 100 miles in a single day, but most don’t usually travel that much. They are usually about 1-5 inches in length with very short antennae.
In Europe, culturally, dragonflies are seen as evil and sinister, and sometimes even personify the devil, while Native American culture had them representing swiftness and activity in stories. In certain parts of Asia, dragonflies are eaten as delicacies, but in Japan, they are the symbol of courage, strength, and happiness in haiku poems.
I chose a dragonfly because while there are so many things the body can do, from moving its wings to its eyes, its still flies gracefully. The wings as paper-thin as they are often glisten in light, and I hope that comes through in my Keyshot renderings. I plan to place the dragonfly in a story that takes place near water of sorts because that’s where dragonflies are most commonly found.