Do dragonflies bite?

Question

I've read some answers that say dragonflies bite. If that is true, has anyone been biten and what did it feel like? Just curious...thanks.

Answer 1

Nah, they can't

Answer 2

No, although large dragonflies if held in the hand will sometimes try to bite, but fail to break the skin. They have a lot of "folk names" which imply that they do (such as Horse stinger), but they don't use their egg-laying tube (ovipositor) for stinging. They also don't bite (people) but they are a fearsome predator of other flying insects.

Answer 3

I haven't try a huge dragonfly but i think they won't, but i often catch a small one, i catch at its tail and its body bend over and claw at my finger like going to bite but it doesn't leave any bite, i haven't try the larger dragonfly because they're too fast until i can't even catch one, i would try nextime..

Answer 4

Yes. Try to catch them by their tails. They will bend over and bite your fingers.

Answer 5

I was bitten or pinched by a blue-tailed dragonfly when I was young. Looks like this: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2032/2395...

I can't say if it used it's mouth parts, and it didn't feel as bad as a sting.