Research into the diversity of dragonflies and damselflies (odonata) at REGUA began with an intensive two week survey in April 2000, followed by a paper by Vick and Chelmick (2001), that identified 44 species at REGUA.

In 2011 Tom Kompier started an extensive project to identify adult Odonata. With assistance from Susan Loose, this study has identified 208 species at REGUA and its immediate surroundings to date. As a result of this survey REGUA is now known to support the highest Odonata diversity in South America or, for that matter, anywhere else on the planet.

Amongst those present are several very rare species, including the Critically Endangered Ivory-tailed Bluetip Minagrion ribeiroi, for which REGUA may be the last refuge. In addition, a new damselfly to science, the Regua Pincertip Forcepsioneura regua, has also been described from REGUA, and a few more species still await formal scientific description.

Tom Kompier is also the author of the REGUA Publications field guide A guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of the Serra dos Orgaos, describing 204 Odonata species found at REGUA.

The wetlands at REGUA are inhabited by over 60 species of dragonflies and damselflies, many of which are easily observed on sunny days. The leaflet The common dragonflies of the REGUA wetlands is available to guests at the lodge and also to download.