You must have seen many beautiful colorful dragonflies flying here and there in our garden, near a lake or pond, or in the middle of a rice field, right? Some people are a little scared, thinking that if these animals hit them, they will bite them. Others look at these beautiful animals with interest. Who are these dragonflies really? Are they friendly animals to us? Or are they a nuisance? Let's find out everything about them today.
What is this dragonfly? (What is a Dragonfly?)
When most people hear the name dragonfly, they think it's a type of fly. Despite the similarity in name, dragonflies are not flies . The biggest and most obvious difference between the two is their wings. Think about it, a normal fly has two wings. But if you look closely at a dragonfly, you'll see that it has four large, transparent wings.
Scientifically, dragonflies are classified as part of the insect family Odonata . There are thousands of different species of dragonflies in Sri Lanka and around the world. Sometimes dragonflies are confused with the similar but slightly thinner 'damselflies'. However, the species we often see, which has a slightly larger body, is called dragonfly.
What does a dragonfly look like?
Dragonflies come in all colors and sizes. They can be found in beautiful colors like blue, green, red, and yellow, as well as in colors like black and brown. Some species of dragonflies can grow to be as long as 5 inches.
Let's look at some of the main features of a dragonfly's body.
| Body part | Specialty and function |
|---|---|
| Head and big eyes | The most distinctive feature of a dragonfly is its large eyes, which protrude from the sides of its head. These eyes contain thousands of tiny lenses, allowing it to see all around at once. These eyes allow it to easily catch even fast-flying prey. |
| Thorax | This is the dragonfly's 'engine'. The muscles and four wings that generate the power needed for fast flight are connected to this part. |
| Abdomen | This is the longest part of the dragonfly. This part helps balance the body while flying and also helps with reproduction. |
What do dragonflies eat?
Here is the most important thing we need to know about dragonflies. Dragonflies are carnivorous animals. One of their main and favorite foods is mosquitoes . Yes, you heard me right. A dragonfly can eat hundreds of mosquitoes in a single day.
In addition to mosquitoes, they catch and eat other small insects that bother us, such as small flies, butterflies, and bees, as they fly.
That means, seeing dragonflies flying around your garden means they are a true friend in the environment, helping to protect you and your family from mosquito-borne diseases like dengue .
The life cycle of a dragonfly is amazing!
The life story of dragonflies is very interesting. The female lays her eggs in water or on plants near water. What emerges from these eggs is not the dragonfly we see, but a larva. We do not see this larva (larva or naiad), because it lives in the water.
This larva can live underwater for several years. It feeds on other underwater insect larvae, especially mosquito larvae . After it has grown well, usually at night, this larva comes out of the water, rests on a leaf or a reed, and does something new. It sheds its skin, and from inside it emerges the beautiful winged dragonfly that we see. This is a very amazing process.
Do dragonflies really bite?
This is a question that many people are afraid of. Yes, a dragonfly can bite. But it happens very, very rarely. That is, only if you catch a dragonfly, squeeze its body, and scare it will it try to bite you in defense. A dragonfly that is just flying around in the air will never attack people.
What do you do if you get bitten by a dragonfly?
Imagine you've been bitten by a dragonfly. Don't be afraid. Most of the time, a dragonfly won't break your skin or cause much pain. Sometimes, if you get bitten by a larger dragonfly, you might just leave a small red mark.
If that happens, there's only one thing to do:
- Add some soap and wash the area thoroughly with water.
Most of the time, no other treatment is needed. There's no need to go to a doctor for something like this.
Remember, dragonflies are not venomous animals, so there is no reason to be unnecessarily afraid of their bite.
Do you want to get rid of dragonflies from your home?
Not at all! Dragonflies are actually an asset to our gardens and our environment. They act as environmentally friendly pest control agents, controlling other annoying insects like mosquitoes. So don't try to kill or chase them away.
If you have a pond or water tank in your garden, it's normal for dragonflies to come there. That's because they're looking for clean water to lay their eggs. Welcome the dragonflies with love. Because having them in your garden is like getting a free mosquito control service.
If a dragonfly occasionally comes into your house, instead of trying to catch it and trap it, leave a window or door open. After a while, it will fly out on its own.
Take-Home Message
- Dragonflies are not flies. They are a separate species of insect.
- They are a very useful friend to our environment, especially because they help control diseases like dengue by eating mosquitoes .
- Dragonflies do not attack humans. They may bite in self-defense only if they are captured and restrained.
- A dragonfly bite is not poisonous or dangerous . Washing with soap is sufficient.
- If you have dragonflies in your garden, don't chase them away. They are an important part of the ecosystem.
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