Ever since I was a kid, I've been skittish around animals. This is perhaps why birds have always been among my favorites—they like to keep their distance from me as much as I do them.
31.05.2024 - 19:59 / treehugger.com
Dragonflies were one of the first insects to inhabit this planet, arriving on the scene around 300 million years ago. They've had many millennia to perfect the art of hunting, flying, and living an extraordinary amount of time (for a bug anyway). They've even developed a knack for flying backward, which comes in handy when trying to catch flies and mosquitoes.
Here are eight facts that may change the way you look at these unique, ancient, and incredibly varied insects.
Volker Theurich / 500px / Getty Images
Dragonflies are flat-out terrifying if you're a gnat, mosquito, or other small bug. They don't simply chase down their prey; they snag them from the air with calculated aerial ambushes. Dragonflies can judge the speed and trajectory of a prey target and adjust their flight to intercept prey. They're so skilled they have up to a 97% success rate when hunting.
Dragonflies and damselflies belong to the order Odonata, meaning «toothed ones,» a nod to their serrated mandibles. When hunting, dragonflies catch prey with their feet, tear off the prey's wings with their sharp jaws so it can't escape, then scarf the sorry bug down, all without even needing to land.
Thankfully, most dragonflies can't bite humans. The vast majority of species don't have mandibles strong enough to break our skin. Only a small handful of large species are capable of biting, and they'll only bite as a defense.
Ra'id Khalil / Shutterstock
Few species in the animal kingdom can compare to the dragonfly's spectacular flying ability. The insects have two sets of wings with muscles in the thorax that can work each wing independently. This allows them to change the angle of each wing and practice superior agility in the air.
Dragonflies can fly in any
Ever since I was a kid, I've been skittish around animals. This is perhaps why birds have always been among my favorites—they like to keep their distance from me as much as I do them.
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