Did you know that the Dragonflies are the most efficient hunters in the world? Yes, they are! They have an average of more than 90% success rate.
The Dragonflies have three special traits that help them succeed in hunting.
- According to the studies of Dr. Steven Weiderman and David O’ Carrol, the dragonflies can respond to multiple stimulate the same time. They are like humans in a crowd when it comes to shifting focus from one thing to another.
- They have large eyes that have 30.000 ommatidia each eye that transmits light into their brain. They can see almost 360 degrees view.
- They have four wings that can move separately, which is great for maneuvering. They can fly forward, backward, upside down, hover, and dive at a speed of 30 miles per hour.
The dragonfly’s other senses are poor, but they have special gifts that helps them win or survive. Just like the dragonflies, we all have our special gifts too. That gift is just waiting for you to unwrap.
Did you know that there were dragonflies with a wingspan of more than two feet? Yes! According to Harvard Magazine, the prehistoric ancestors of the modern dragonflies who lived more than 240 million years ago have to and a half feet wingspan. The fossils were found in Noble County, Oklahoma by Frank Carpenter and his colleaguein summer of 1940.
The biggest dragonfly to date is the ones found in the Western United States and Mexico. It is called the Giant Darner. These large dragonflies have wingspan of more than five inches.
The name dragonfly was believed to derive form Romania and Sweden. The dragons in the story turned into dragonflies.
There are more than 3000 species of dragonflies. They live near the bodies of water where they can lay eggs. Some species lay their eggs on plants,
The young larvae are called nymphs or naiads. These nymphs lived underwater for two years until they mature.
Dragonflies are different from Damselflies in several ways;
- The dragonflies have four wings with two pairs of different sizes unlike the damselflies.
- Dragonflies rest with their wings on horizontal position unlike the damselflies who hold theirs wings together vertically.
- Dragonflies have larger eyes than the Danmselfies.
- The dragonfly’s body is stronger.
- Dragonflies are better fliers than the Damselflies.
Dragonflies and Damselflies have teeth but not strong enough to bite or sting the human skin.
They don’t produce heat like the butterflies. They need to warm their wings under the sun before flying.
Come to think of it, don’t we humans need to warm up ourselves before we can fly too? What I mean about warming up and flying is that we need to practice or work on our dreams before we can succeed.
Poem written by Salvacion Roselle Reyes
Photo credit: Adobe Creative Cloud Express