Dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) have been around for hundreds of millions of years and may have once measured up to 75cm wingspan. Yet they are still an important group of insects found in wetland habitats - their dazzling colours and aerial finesse makes them a firm favourite of both the amateur naturalist and professional entomologist alike.

There are 39 native species of dragonflies and damselflies but with acute eyesight and reaching flight speeds of up to 36km per hour they can often be difficult to study and identify. Their larvae are fully aquatic and are typically found in unpolluted well vegetated still or slow-flowing water where they hunt a variety of small invertebrates. The adults are never found far from water either, being ectothermic (cold-blooded) they are best seen on a warm sunny day. The adults are also predatory, hunting a range of small flying insects especially midges and mosquitoes.

Odonata larvae, although easier to catch than adults (using an standard invertebrate pond net), are often hard to identify to species level but unmistakable from other aquatic insect larvae. Watching adult dragonflies is cheap and easy with many species identifiable by the naked eye (if they stay still for long enough!) One of the best ways to view them is to take up a comfortable position at a ponds edge near suitable perches - branches or floating vegetation are often used to rest and warm up on.

But should you need to do more than identify the most recognisable species, you will need some simple pieces of equipment. A pair of binoculars can be really useful to view identifying features without needing to catch the dragonfly. Binoculars need to have a close focusing range to allow you to get a close up look at an animal only a few metres away. But dragonflies rarely sit still for long and when it's really important to get a positive ID, for surveys etc, then you will need to catch them. They are incredibly delicate creatures - their wings can easily be damaged and legs can get caught in insect nets. A good quality butterfly net with fine soft mesh is suitable - white netting is often preferred over black for Odonata.

A good identification key is the most important piece of field kit. These can range from portable fold-out cards to more comprehensive field guides. Which to choose depends on your personal preference. A simple chart can easily be slipped in a backpack for a nature walk whilst field guides can provide more comprehensive information on distribution, behaviour etc. Painted keys can be better for dragonflies and damselflies as their iridescent colours can look very different from a single shot in a guide. Their appearance can be different between sexes so an ID guide should show both male and female colour forms.

One of the major concerns to dragonfly specialists in recent years is the impact of climate change on our native British species. The warmer temperatures have allowed increasing numbers of continental European species to survive in the UK. One species (small red-eyed damselfly) is already breeding in the UK and several more species are thought to be establishing themselves here in Britain. Climate change is also thought to be affecting our Northern specialists - species adapted to the cooler temperatures of North England and Scotland are becoming rarer. The British Dragonfly Society predicts that 14 of the 39 native species are at risk and are currently undertaking a nationwide survey program. They are keen to recruit more dragonfly monitors (see the British Dragonfly Society website for more details) so get out there and get better acquainted with some of our most dazzling wildlife.