The Flying Dragons

from Boyce Thompson Arboretum Member Magazine - Fall 2019

A Medicinal Marvel

The Dragonflies of Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Text and Photos by Preston Cox, BTA Horticulturist Specialist, Retail Nursery

**Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)**

Flying dragons are things of myth and legend. Whether real or not, they have fascinated humankind for millennia. Legendary tales of dragons come from all over Europe and Asia. Famous battles such as St. George’s fight leave us in awe. Did they really happen? Did dragons really exist? We may never know. What we do know is that people today are no less fascinated by tales of dragons than they were in the past. Movies, kids' shows, books, figurines and more can be found in abundance, all highlighting dragons.

While dragons may be mythical, there is a creature that bears the name that is very real, and no less fascinating—the dragonfly. There are no fewer myths and legends about dragonflies than dragons themselves. For instance, depending on the culture, seeing a dragonfly could mean good fortune and your wish will come true, or it may bring bad luck and disaster.

**Dragonfly merchandise available in the gift shop**

**Blue-Eyed Darner (Aeshna multicolor, syn. Rhionaeschna multicolor)**

In Navajo culture, the dragonfly symbolizes water. Some Native American cultures believe dragonflies bring the rain. It is believed that if a dragonfly lands on your fishing pole, you will have good luck. Some even believe the color of the dragonfly will determine what kind of fish you will catch. In Asia, dragonflies are considered bearers of good luck, while in most of Europe they are regarded as omens of doom or devils.

Dragonflies belong to the order Odonata, which also includes damselflies. There are more than 5,000 species worldwide. You can see more than 20 species flitting around Ayer lake and water features at BTA. These remarkable creatures spend most of their lives near freshwaters such as lakes and ponds. They mate in midair then deposit their eggs in water, usually near the shore and plant life. When the larvae, called naiads, hatch they begin to feed voraciously on mosquito larvae, as well as other insects and even tadpoles and small fish. When the time comes for them to become adults, they crawl out of the water onto a reed or other plant stem, and their exoskeleton splits open. An adult dragonfly emerges.

As adults, they continue to feed upon massive amounts of mosquitoes. Dragonflies are master hunters, sometimes called “pondhawks.” They catch their prey in midair by hovering, grasping them with their legs and devouring them with their strong mandibles. Perhaps the most striking feature of a dragonfly is its large compound eyes which contain some 24,000 separate lenses, giving them unprecedented sight. While most people think of dragonflies in gorgeous hues of iridescent blues and greens, they also come in amazing golds, oranges, reds, and even magenta pink.

The best time to see dragonflies at BTA is from late spring through fall. So the next time you are strolling through the Arboretum, take time to stop and appreciate these flying dragons and thank them for helping with the mosquitoes. If you would like to learn more about these incredible creatures, stop by the Arboretum gift shop where you can pick up a free checklist of the species we have at BTA. You can also find books on dragonflies, as well as gifts and note cards. I hope you enjoy these winged wonders.