You must have seen many colorful dragonflies flying around our homes, in our fields, near lakes, ponds, and streams, right? Some even jokingly call them 'helicopters'. There are many amazing stories about these small, cute creatures that fly fast with colorful, shiny wings that many of us don't know. So, today, let's talk a little deeper about the world of dragonflies.
Who really is Dragonfly?
Simply put, dragonflies are one of the most intelligent creatures in the insect world. Scientifically, they are classified as part of the phylum Odonata . This word comes from the Greek word for "toothed." This is because their jaws are very strong and have a saw-like shape. They use these jaws to catch the insects they hunt.
If you look closely at a dragonfly, you can see some special features on their body:
- Body: Has a long, slender body.
- Wings: There are two pairs of wings, or four wings. These are spread horizontally across the body. They have very thin, shiny, web-like wings with a network of veins. In some species, the wings are transparent, and in others, they are very beautifully colored.
- Eyes: Most of the dragonfly's head is covered by two large eyes. These are compound eyes, made up of thousands of tiny lenses that are connected together. These eyes allow them to see a wide range of objects at once.
- Legs: Although there are six legs, they are not used much for walking. They are mostly used for ``perching`` on a leaf or branch.
Dragonflies are skilled hunters . Their main diet consists of mosquitoes, flies, and other small flying insects. Did you know that a single dragonfly can eat hundreds of mosquitoes in a day? The way they hunt is also very interesting. They fold their legs together to form a basket, and when they see their prey, they fly quickly to catch it in the basket. Then they grab the prey with their saw-like jaws and often eat it while it is still flying.
How does the life cycle of a dragonfly occur?
The life story of a dragonfly is very interesting. It can be divided into three main stages. Unlike a butterfly, dragonflies do not have a ``cocoon stage``. This is called incomplete metamorphosis.
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Egg Stage | Once the male dragonfly finds a female, they will mate and fly together. Sometimes this will take the shape of a heart. The female will then descend to the surface of the water and lay hundreds of eggs on aquatic plants or in the water itself. These eggs will hatch in a week to five weeks, depending on the species. |
| Larval/Nymphal Stage | What emerges from the eggs is not like the dragonfly we see, but a brown, wingless, and strange-looking creature. These larvae are called `(Larva or Nymph)`. They live completely underwater. They breathe through the gills on the back of their bodies. These larvae are skilled hunters. They eat animals like frogs, small fish, and worms. Most of a dragonfly's life, perhaps two to three years, is spent underwater. During this time, they molt several times. |
| Adult Stage | When the larva is fully grown, it emerges from the water and rests on a rock or plant to molt for the last time. The old skin (exuvia) is shed, and within a few hours a beautiful winged dragonfly emerges. At first, they are a little pale in color. After a few days, they get stronger, become the colorful dragonflies we see, and return to the water to breed. The life span of a beautiful dragonfly can be from two weeks to about two months. |
Do dragonflies really bite us?
This is a question that many people have. The short answer is that dragonflies are not dangerous to humans . Just because a dragonfly has landed on you, it is not going to bite you.
However, if you catch a dragonfly and hold it tightly in your hand, it may get scared and bite you in self-defense . It's like what any animal does when it's scared.
Even if you do get bitten, you might feel a little pain or you might get a little dizzy. But a dragonfly's bite is unlikely to break your skin and cause bleeding. So there's nothing to worry about. Also, the larvae that live underwater don't harm humans. They will only bite if they feel threatened.
Then do dragonflies sting?
Not at all.Dragonflies do not have a stinger like bees. Therefore, the story that dragonflies sting is completely false.
In some rare cases, if a female wasp is disturbed, it has been reported that she may try to lay eggs on clothing or even skin. But this is usually a defense mechanism, not an attack.
Some interesting facts you didn't know about dragonflies
- Most of its life in the water: The flying dragonfly we see spends very little of its entire life underwater. Most of its life, perhaps about 4 years, is spent as a larva underwater.
- Master Flier: Dragonflies can move their four wings independently, allowing them to fly in any direction, up, down, backward, or hovering.
- Protection from the sun: During periods of intense sunlight, dragonflies turn their abdomens vertically, that is, straight up to the sky. This is called obelisking . This is done to reduce the amount of sunlight that hits their bodies.
- Heart-shaped: When the male grabs the female's neck from behind during mating, they form a heart-shaped mating wheel.
- Teamwork: In areas where insects are abundant, dragonflies hunt in large flocks. Some species even migrate together.
Finally, dragonflies are wonderful, environmentally friendly creatures. Don't be afraid of them or bother them.
Take-Home Message
- Dragonflies are a very useful and beautiful creature for our environment. They help a lot in controlling harmful insects like mosquitoes.
- They are not dangerous to humans. As long as you don't catch them and hold them, they won't bite or sting you.
- A dragonfly spends most of its life as a larva underwater. The flying nymph stage we see is only a short part of their life.
- The next time you see a dragonfly, don't be afraid and observe its beauty and behavior. It will be a wonderful experience.
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