What Makes Dragonflies So Extraordinary

Before bats, before birds, before pterosaurs, a dragonfly-like insect was probably the first thing to fly on Earth. They also happen to be our host Jessica Ware’s all-time favorite insect, both because they’re impressive predators and evolutionary innovators. Join host and entomologist Jessica Ware to find out why dragonflies are the strongest flyers in the insect world—reaching speeds of up to 30 mph and among the few animals that can hover. Then, follow scientists into the field to discover what mapping the dragonfly family tree is revealing about incredible insects. The series is produced for PBS by the American Museum of Natural History. Original Production Funding Provided by National Science Foundation - Grant No. 2120006 Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Take the 2023 PBS Survey: