Fun Common Sanddragon Facts For Kids

There are around 7000 species of dragonflies in the world and the common sanddragon is one of them. The scientific name for common sanddragon is Progomphus obscurus. The common sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) is a dragonfly that can be seen in streams, creeks, and small rivers flying over and around the water. They can also be spotted resting on rocks, boulders, branches, or logs. The common sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) is endemic to the eastern United States and also seen in nearby regions. The common sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) is commonly called a sanddragon as well.

The common sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) is primarily a carnivore and feeds on larvae and aquatic insects. They have an overall similar appearance to other dragonfly species. The common sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) is a small to medium-sized dragonfly and is capable of surviving in tropical to subtropical climates. During extreme hot climates, these dragonflies raise their abdomen straight into the air, helping them to cool off easily. The common sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) is most active during summer and fall seasons and not really active during the other seasons.

For more relatable content, check out the milkweed beetle and European paper wasp.

What type of animal is a common sanddragon?

The common sanddragon is a dragonfly that belongs to the dragon taxonomy, to the kingdom Animalia, order Odonata, and family Gomphidae.

What class of animal does a common sanddragon belong to?

The common sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) is a type of dragonfly which belongs to class Insecta, family Gomphidae, and genus Progomphus.

How many common sanddragons are there in the world?

The exact population size and range of sanddragons in the world is not known. The most commonly seen dragonfly in the world is the globe skimmer (Pantala flavescens).

Where does a common sanddragon live?

The common sanddragon range is wetlands near streams, creaks, and other similar regions. This species is widely seen in various regions in the eastern United States, Canada, southern Ontario, and North America. They have fast flight patterns.

What is a common sanddragon's habitat?

The common sanddragon habitat range constitutes streams, creaks, and small rivers where they can find food easily. They are seen resting on rocks, branches, and logs. They are capable of surviving in tropical and subtropical climates however, on extremely hot days, they need to raise their abdomen straight into the air which helps it to cool off. They survive best in their natural habitat.

Who do common sanddragons live with?

Common sanddragons live by themselves as well as in groups called swarms. Dragonflies are excellent at controlling mosquito populations. The common sanddragon dragonfly coexists with other animals in the wild.

How long does a common sanddragon live?

A common sanddragon lives only for a few weeks to five years. They are known to pretend to be dead in some instances in order to avoid being coerced into mating. It is assumed that dragonflies have existed as early as the Paleozoic period.

How do they reproduce?

The breeding range of these dragonflies is usually on water surfaces including streams and rivers. Adult male and female common sanddragons are different in appearance with females having a slender dark abdomen while males have a slight bulge at the tip of their abdomen. Females who are ready to breed lay eggs along the surface of the moving water. Once the egg is laid, it develops into a young naiad. The juvenile then begins digging into the sand bottom of the stream. Its lives underwater until it develops wings after which it crawls onto the surface and becomes a fully mature adult. After this, they live outside water however, they come back to the surface of the water to feed on flying insects.  

What is their conservation status?

Progomphus obscurus or the common sanddragon is classified as a Least Concern species by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature (IUCN).  They are not endangered and they can be seen in the United States, Canada, southern Ontario, and North America.

What do common sanddragons look like?

A common sand dragon is a dragonfly which has a yellow face with large eyes on either side of the face with varying colors depending on its surroundings. They have four transparent wings with a single black bar on the top edge near the wings' tip. They have slender bodies with females having a dark brown abdomen and males having a slight bulge at the tip of the abdomen and finally a yellow mark at the top of each abdominal segment, adding color to their tail.

How cute are they?

Dragonflies are exotic beings and not ideally cute. They mostly reside in their habitat near water or wetlands and are seldom seen in other regions.

How do they communicate?

They utilize their green, blue, purple, and bronze hues to send messages to other insects. They don't usually use their voice in order to communicate. These color messages are used to warn off predatory birds.

How big is a common sanddragon?

The average common sanddragon size is 1.69-2.79 in (43-71 mm) in length which is 50 times bigger than parasitic wasps, also known as fairy flies, which measure 0.005 in (0.127 mm) length.

How fast can a common sanddragon fly?

The exact flight speed of a common sanddragon is not known however dragonflies have an average flight speed of 22-34 mph (36-54 kph.). Their flight patterns may vary depending on what they are involved in such as catching prey or escaping from a predator.

How much does a common sanddragon weigh?

The common sanddragon weight is not evaluated. The average dragonfly weighs 0.0002 lb (1000 mg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Male and female dragonflies of this species are not addressed differently. Males and females are different in appearance. Females have a slender dark abdomen while males have a slight bulge at the tip of their abdomen. They also differ in reproductive functions.

What would you call a baby common sanddragon?

Baby common sanddragons are called larvae, nymphs, and naiads. Nymphs develop by themselves without any assistance from parents.

What do they eat?

Common sanddragons are a carnivorous species. They feed on larvae and aquatic insects. The naiads also feed on the matter available to them underwater. Predator species to these dragonflies include common kingfishers, falcons and spiders among other insectivorous species.

Are they dangerous?

No, this species is not dangerous unless it is troubled in which case it is known to bite. However, they can't get through into the skin. This only happens if you hold them in your hand or try to provoke them.

Would they make a good pet?

They are both fun to raise as well as challenging. It is best to observe them in their natural habitat and from a distance. They need appropriate space for flying and resting which they can only find in their natural habitat. Their flight patterns are fast compared to other species of insects.

Did you know...

A new species of dragonfly named Gynacantha vargasi was discovered on the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica. This new species is a New World species.

Dragonflies are a cherished cuisine consumed by people in Indonesia. Certain Asian and other continents are known to consume cockroaches, worms and another insects as well.

A common myth surrounding insects is that most of them don't survive past 24 hours. In the case of a dragonfly, the lifecycle from an egg to death is about six months.

How many eggs do common sanddragons lay?

Common sanddragons lay around 1500 eggs, similar to other dragonfly species. The eggs take about a week to hatch and develop independently. They spawn multiple times throughout their life. Most of their life is spent as nymphs beneath the surface of the water. They have relatively short lifespans and try and avoid any danger from possible predators as much as they can.

How to spot a common sanddragon?

They are commonly seen near rivers, streams, or creaks in regions including the eastern United States, Canada, southern Ontario, and North America. Spotting such species in regions other than the United States, southern Ontario and North America nearby regions is rare. They are similar to other dragonfly species as they vary slightly in coloration and pattern. They have four transparent wings with a single black bar on the top edge near the wings' tip. They have slender bodies with females having dark brown abdomen and males having a slight bulge at the tip of the abdomen and finally a yellow mark at the top of each abdominal segment adding color to their tail. They have a yellow face with large eyes on either side of the face with varying colors depending on their surrounding.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other animals from our mud dauber wasp facts and slipper lobster facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable common dragon coloring pages.