Libellule

Nicknamed "flying gems" or "devil's needles," dragonflies trace unpredictable and graceful trajectories across the surfaces of lakes, rivers, and wetlands with their erratic flights. But the millennia-old existence of Italy's 87 species, out of 4,000, is being severely challenged by land reclamation, pesticide use, pollution, and intensive water exploitation, which can alter the delicate ecosystems in which dragonflies live. Through original images, Adonella Marena recounts the life, habits, and peculiarities of a curious and fascinating animal, worthy of preservation as an example of nature's extraordinary biodiversity.