| Stuart - the basic answer to the question is other insects, they prey mainly on the smaller flies, gnats, midges etc... but I have quite often seen the larger Hawkers & Emperors take Butterflies & Damselflies & eat them whilst still flying, it is also worth noting that the larger species of Dragonfly such as Golden Ringed, Emperor, Brown Hawker etc... are cannibalistic and will readily eat smaller Dragonflies such as Darters if they can catch them, this is not common, but I have seen it a few times.
The most fascinating Dragonfly feeding behaviour that I have ever seen took place last Summer, I was sitting by a lake watching Black-Tailed Skimmers when I noticed that a few of the males seemed to be actually touching the waters surface in much the same way as Swallows do when they drink, on closer inspection through binoculars these Dragonflies were actually taking Pond skaters Gerris lacustris from the surface film, hitting them with perfect prescision every time. |