Unlike some other insects the wings are not linked, but operate independently, enabling them to fly rapidly, or hover, or fly backwards.

They catch small flies as food in mid-air, darting from their perch to catch their prey, and then returning to the same place, to keep watch for the next meal.

Their eggs hatch in to nymphs which live underwater preying on other small insects, before, when fully grown, climbing out of the water on a plant stem, to emerge as the adult.