Dragons in the Sky

 

Dragonflies are one of the fastest insects in nature. They can fly in any direction, up down, sideways, backwards, you name it. They have incredible eyes. They can see all around them, even backwards. This is good, because they have to see everything while they are flying. They hunt for insects like mosquitoes and flies while all the while watching for predators like birds ore even bigger dragonflies.

Dragonflies have 4 wings witch can be clear or have colored markings. They are divided into little cell areas that scientists use to help identify all the different kinds. Each species of dragonfly is unique. They are cold blooded so they need to warm up in the sun every morning before they can get started. You can often find them sunning on a fencepost or wire so that they can dry off from the morning dew and warm their flight muscles. Once they are airborne they will fly over grassy fields and meadows looking for unsuspecting insects. One single dragonfly can catch and devour over 100 insects in a single day. The have a cool way of catching them. They make a “basket” with their legs and scoop them up right out of the air!

Dragonflies start their lives in the water. The female lays eggs on plants just under the surface of the water. When they hatch, the larva (called a nymph) starts searching for small water dwellers to eat. They have a jaw that shoots out like some kind of alien! They eat and eat until they are full grown. Then they crawl out of the water on the stem of a plant. Their skin splits down the back and the adult dragonfly pulls itself out. When its wings are expanded and fully dried, they take their place in the skies as fierce hunters like their parents.

A cousin of the dragonfly is the damselfly. You can tell them apart because the dragonfly rests with its wings laid flat. A damselfly rests with its wing folded back. They are also much thinner. You can tell the difference in the larva also. They have feathery gills that they wave around in the water.

Dragonflies can’t really hurt you. If you see one, watch it carefully.  They are really amazing.

Here is a neat video about dragonflies.

 

Hope you liked our dragonfly talk!

Love Papaw.