Dragonflies & Damselflies: Aquatic and Aerial Hunters
Get an up-close look at your local odonates!
- Time of Year
- July 25, 2026 – January 2, 2028
- Location
- Level 2
Dragonflies and damselflies are a common sight flying near Chicago lakes and ponds during the summer months, but did you know that they spend part of their lives living in the water? Learn the differences and similarities between the two, see preserved specimens up close, discover their complex life cycles, and more. You're sure to leave with a new appreciation for these high-flying hunters!
Access to this exhibit is included with Museum admission.
Keep Exploring
Since 2017, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences has been the home of the Illinois Odonate Survey. Established in 2002, the Survey was created with the aim of gaining a greater knowledge of the distribution and abundance of dragonfly and damselfly species in the Chicago region.
Every year, community science volunteers walk assigned routes in the Chicago region. Using a standardized form, they record all dragonflies and damselflies they observe along the route. These surveys can be analyzed to show relative abundance, changes in abundance over time, and distributions of dragonflies and damselflies. Check out the links below to learn more about the Illinois Odonate Survey and how to become a volunteer!
The Illinois Odonate Survey aims to gain a greater knowledge of the distribution and abundance of dragonfly and damselfly species.
Illinois Odonate Survey Resources
We are a community science program surveying dragonfly and damselflies populations and accounts throughout Illinois. Apply now to become a volunteer monitor!