Sandra Rand, age 9, of Willingboro, N.J., for her question:

CAN THE DRAGONFLY FLY FAST?

The dragonfly is a beautiful water insect. It can fly fast and uses this skill to escape from birds or other animals. Dragonflies have been known to fly 50 to 60 miles an hour.

Dragonflies have four large, fragile wings which look like fine gauze. The wings shimmer and gleam in the sunlight when the insects fly. Their slender bodies are either green, blue or brown.

Dragonflies have compound eyes which look like beads. They cover most of the head. Dragonflies can see objects almost six feet away and moving objects two to three times that distance.

The insect has six legs covered with spines. It can use its legs to perch on a limb, but it cannot walk. As it flies through the air, it holds its legs together to form a basket in which to capture other insects.

The dragonfly grasps its prey with its legs or jaws and eats it while flying.

Dragonflies are sometimes called devil's darning needles, snake doctors, horse stingers and mule killers. They help man by feeding on harmful insects such as mosquitoes.