Winged Tigers Of The Air
Winged Tigers Of The Air
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1. Despite their name, dragonflies are not related to common flies. In fact, they are part of an entirely different order of insects. Dragonflies are part of the Odonata order, which also includes damselflies.
2. Worldwide, the Odonata order of insects (dragonflies and damselflies) includes more than 5,000 individual species. They exist in many countries around the world. Within the United States, there are about 400 species of Odonata.
3. You often see dragonflies near bodies of water (ponds, lakes and slow-moving streams) because they lay their eggs on or near the water.
4. Dragonfly young (nymphs) have a special appendage on their head that they use as a spear to catch small fish. They are predatory insects from birth.
5. Dragonflies are not born with wings. They are born in a larvae state and eventually go through a partial metamorphosis process, during which they grow their wings.
6. Dragonflies spend most of their lives in the larva stage (up to three years, depending on the species). The adult, winged stage only lasts a few weeks. Mating is the primary reason for their winged stage. So when you see a winged dragonfly, you know it's toward the end of its lifespan, sad but true.
7. Male dragonflies can be very territorial, staking claim to a particular area alongside a pond or stream. When you see two adults chasing each other through the air, it is often one male chasing another from its territory.
8. When you see two dragonflies flying through the air attached to one another, it is almost always a male and female mating.
9. Dragonflies will sometimes travel in swarms, which may be related to weather changes such as the passage of cold fronts.
10. Dragonflies prey on other creatures through their entire life cycle. As larva in bodies of water, they prey on other small creatures (mosquito larva, tiny fish, etc.). As adults, they eat other flying insects.
11. Dragonflies can be useful in controlling mosquito populations. Mosquitoes are one of their primary food sources!
12. Dragonflies are ancient insects. They have existed on Planet Earth for approximately 300 million years. Today, they look very much like they did in "dinosaur times," though they have gradually gotten smaller since then.
13. The largest dragonfly fossil (one of the earliest) had a wingspan of nearly three feet. That makes it the largest flying insect in known history.
14. Dragonflies have two pairs of wings. The wings are mostly transparent and move very fast, so it often appears that they have more than two pairs.
15. The front wings of the dragonfly are slightly longer than the rear wings. This helps with both speed and maneuverability.
16. Though many people fear them, dragonflies cause no harm to humans whatsoever. They are often curious toward humans and will fly around you for that reason, but they do not sting or bite.
17. Though dragonflies are essentially harmless to humans, there were many spooky legends about them in the past (some of which still remain). For example, people used to believe that sleeping outside put you at risk of having your eyes sewn shut by the dragonfly or "darning needle."
18. One of the most distinguishing features of dragonflies are their eyes. They have large, compound eyes with many facets or sides. Because of their large, multifaceted eyes, the adult dragonfly can see nearly 360 degrees around it at all times. It is said that dragonfly eyes contain up to 30,000 individual lenses. Human eyes only have one.
20. As far as insects go, dragonflies are among the fastest. Some of the faster species can fly upward of 30 miles per hour. Their four wings also allow them to move sideways, backward, to hover in place, etc. And they can do all of these movements quickly and accurately, which makes them well suited to eat other insects right out of the air.
21. These magnificent insects derived their name from the mythical dragon. Native Americans believed that the dragonfly was, in fact, a dragon that was tricked by a coyote to shape-shift into its present form of an insect. Once the dragon took the form of a dragonfly, it couldn’t shift back. Then and now the dragonfly represents swiftness, illusion and change.
22. Even though most of the insect’s brain is devoted to sight, they don’t see detail well but are attracted to movement. However, they do have a special area, directly in front of their compound eyes, that is flat and is concentrated with eye cells, which allows them to pinpoint insects as they fly.
23. Even though dragonflies have six legs, they cannot walk very well. They are built for flying and grab insects out of the air and eat them while in flight.
24. They are carnivorous their entire lives and have a voracious appetite in every stage. Nymphs can actually propel through the water via an opening in their body that ejects water acting as a thrust mechanism.
25. Today, the largest dragonfly is found in Costa Rica. It has a wingspan of 7 1/2 inches.
26. They can be used as flagship not only for aquatic habitats but for the wider insect world. Their presence indicates clean water and a healthy habitat.
27. Over the last 40 years we have witnessed the extinction of three species of Dragonflies . They dies because of pollution, inappropriate habitat management and climate change.
28. Dragonflies have powerful flight muscles and wings that move independently. Because of this they are able to fly forward, Backward, Sideways and rapidly change directions. Hawker flies fly at 36 km./hr.
29. Dragonflies wings are like precious human fingerprints they all are unique there are no two that are the same. They have a massive impact on the dragonflies survival. The wings are crucial because they help the dragonfly fly away from predators in fact the dragonfly is the fastest insect that can fly.
30. The nickname “snake doctor” came from the myth that dragonflies would follow snakes and either sew them together if they were injured, or bring them back to life.
31. Dragonflies once served as an omen for fishermen. Wherever it hovered, there were plenty of fish to be caught, or if it hovered over the fisherman it was thought to bring good luck.
32. The dragonfly has been is seen in many pagan cultures as having magical attributes, and it has a similar meaning to the butterfly. Many believe that dragonflies can travel between dimensions, and are messengers of dreams and illusions.
33. Historically, dragonfly symbolism was used in love spells and to bring good luck. Today, it is more commonly used to help one let go of the past, assist in transforming one’s life and understanding dreams.
34. They have played an important role in some cutlers , they are seen as symbols of strength , regeneration and pure water. In others they represent fear and supernatural powers and are increasingly used for art.
35. Using a basket-like arrangement of their legs, adult dragonflies can actually catch and eat other bugs while they are flying. They are not harmful to us at all because they do not attack or bite us in any way.
36. Dragonflies are visual hunters and have the ability to see in color as well as ultraviolet light and polarized light , which enables them to see reflections of light on water.
37. One of the benefits of having dragonflies is that they eat many mosquitoes each and every day. Dragonflies also eat other kinds of insects like : flies, midgets and Honeybees which occasionally are irritating insects.
38. Dragonflies are adaptive insects, they are born in water and are in air after maturity. A dragonfly represents monsoon and rain, it is also a symbol of subconscious or dreaming mind and thoughts. A dragonfly lives a very short life and it tries to live to the fullest with what it has.
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