Written by Shanna Weber and Photograph by Ian Weber
Dragonflies life cycles take place around water so southwest Florida, especially Cape Coral, is an excellent area for them to prosper. As larva they consume other insect larvae, even tadpoles, to mature.
Dragonflies are often mistaken for damselflies. Dragonflies are larger, have transparent wings that are spread out to the side, are dexterous fliers, and usually display iridescent or bright colors. They are such amazing fliers they can migrate across oceans, can move in any direction (up, down, right, left, back, forward) and can change direction suddenly. Dragonflies live on all continents, except Antarctica, and total more than 3,000 different species, though many are tropical.
Dragonflies have three distinct parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. The head is large, with short antennae, and two encompassing eyes. Males tend to be territorial especially regarding a breeding area. Females may become harassed by males and in some cases specific female species have evolved forms to appear to be male and feigning death to avoid attention. Though with the loss of wetland habitats across the world, the dragonfly’s habitat could be dwindling.
Dragonflies are an excellent predator of nuisance insects including mosquitoes, ants, and flies. Their diet also includes butterflies and moths. Predators of the dragonfly are falcons, nighthawks, swallows, and other swift moving bird species. These insects are caught as food for some people in Indonesia and used in traditional medicinal techniques and products in Japan and China.
Fossils of the dragonfly date to more than 325 million years ago though its then wingspan was more than 30 inches. The dragonfly has appeared across cultures and history including Native American tribes of the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, and Pueblo, as well Japan, China, and Ancient Egypt.
For further information on Dragonflies/identify species visit:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/14-fun-facts-about-dragonflies-96882693/
For an in-depth look at the dragonfly life cycle watch this video courtesy of National Geographic:
https://youtu.be/edW30jsCy6M