6566, DRAGONFLY 13.4"L are anatomically scaled to create the best reproduction of the life size stuffed animal and the most realistic stuffed animal in the industry.

Around 300 million years ago, dragonflies were one of the first insects to inhabit this planet. After many millennia they’ve  perfected the art of hunting, flying, and living an extraordinary amount of time (for bugs anyway). They've even developed a knack for flying backwards, coming in handy when trying to catch flies and mosquitoes.

Fun Facts About Dragonflies

1. Dragonflies Can Intercept Prey Midair

Dragonflies are flat-out terrifying if you're a gnat, mosquito, or other small bug. They don't simply chase down prey; they snag them from the air with calculated aerial ambushes. Dragonflies can judge the speed and trajectory of a target by adjusting their flight to intercept prey. They're so skilled they have up to a 97% success rate when hunting.

2. They Have Incredibly Sharp Mandibles

Dragonflies and damselflies (females) belong to the order Odonata, meaning "toothed ones," a nod to their serrated mandibles. When hunting, dragonflies catch prey with their feet, tear off the prey's wings with their sharp jaws so it can't escape, then scarf the sorry bug down, all without even needing to land.

Thankfully, most dragonflies can't bite humans. The vast majority of species don't have mandibles strong enough to break our skin.

3. They're Freaky Fliers

There are few species in the animal kingdom that can compare to the dragonfly's spectacular flying ability.  Dragonflies  have two sets of wings with muscles in the thorax working each wing independently. This allows them to change the angle of each wing and practice superior agility in the air.

Dragonflies can fly in any direction, including sideways and backward, and can hover in a single spot for a minute or more. This amazing ability is one factor in their success as aerial ambush predators—they can move in on unsuspecting prey from any direction.

They're fast, as well, with some species reaching a top speed of 18 mph. They're also known for their feats of endurance. One species called the globe skimmer (Pantala flavescens) flies 11,000 miles across an ocean in what's considered the world's longest insect migration.

4. Dragonflies Are All Eyes

If you look at a dragonfly's head, you might notice one thing in particular—or, rather, 30,000 things in particular.

The area of an odonate's head is composed primarily of its enormous compound eyes, which contain 30,000 facets, each bringing in information about the insect's surroundings. Dragonflies have nearly 360-degree vision, with just one blind spot directly behind them. This extraordinary vision is one reason why they're able to keep a watch on a single insect within a swarm and go after it while avoiding midair collisions with other insects in the swarm.

5. They Can Live Years Underwater

Dragonflies lay their eggs in water, and when the larvae hatch, they live underwater for up to two years. Actually, depending on the altitude and latitude, some species may stay in the larval state for up to six years. They'll molt up to 17 times before surfacing and transforming into the dragonflies we see in the air.

They are specially adapted for the aquatic life in this stage, with the ability to snag prey at lightning speed. They'll eat a large variety of food, including other insect larvae, tadpoles, fish, and yes, even other dragonfly larvae.

6. Some Lay Eggs in Saltwater

Relatively few insects inhabit the ocean, perhaps because they have trouble surviving in saltwater. That doesn't seem to bother some dragonflies, however. Certain species, like the seaside dragonlet (Erythrodiplax berenicei) can even produce offspring in environments saltier than typical seawater.

The seaside dragonlet is a standout species because its habitat consists of salt marshes, mangroves, and saline lakes. It's the only dragonfly species in North America (but not in the world) with a range that's restricted to salty habitats.

7. Dragonflies Are Beneficial to People

Dragonflies help humans by controlling populations of pest insects, especially those that threaten us most, such as mosquitoes and biting flies. A single dragonfly can eat anywhere between 30 and hundreds of mosquitoes per day.

Dragonflies also inspire us to create new technology—from drones to artificial visual systems—because of their incredible flight skills and vision. The least we humans can do to return the favor is support the conservation of their habitats so they can continue on for another 300 million years.

Product Dimension: 13.26(L) X 12.87(W) X 4.68(H)

HANSA CREATION, INC. Collection is HANSA CREATION's hand-crafted collection of realistic plush animals. It takes great pride in each enchanting work of soft sculpture art, carefully designed to educate, fascinate, captivate and inspire creative play for collectors of all ages.

Artists create each HANSA animal from portraits of the creature in its natural habitat appropriately called Hansa Creation Portrait's in Nature. It is HANSA's uncompromising integrity in design and quality standards that has charmed collectors for generations and continues to mesmerize new collectors of all ages.  Product Dimension: 13.26(L) X 12.87(W) X 4.68(H)