This is a dragonfly.  They live all over the world.  They live near ponds and rivers.  

Dragonflies can fly very fast.  They catch and eat insects.

Dragonflies lay eggs in water or on plant stems.  The young are called nymphs.  They live in the water.  They eat small water animals like tadpoles and worms.  When they have grown they come out of the water.  Their skins dry and the dragonfly comes out.

There are about 4,800 different dragonflies in the world.  There are 39 different dragonflies in Britain. 

Birds, fish and other insects will eat dragonflies.

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