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My son and I saw a lot of dragonflies while fishing at a pond. He asked if dragonflies could hurt you. Are dragonflies harmful to humans?
N
ot unless you’re a small insect or fish—then you’re a potential meal. Dragonflies can’t sting (although that’s one of the enduring myths) nor can they sew your ears together, another myth that gave then the nickname “devil’s darning needle.” Dragonflies and damselflies look very much alike and both belong to the order Odonata. Dragonflies are larger than damselflies and fly faster. They also hold their wings spread when they alight, unlike the damselfly that folds its wings over its back. Both are ravenous feeders and the dragonfly nymph is one of the most voracious pond predators. The dragonfly begins life breathing through gills under water for about a year before it matures and leaves the water for a few glorious weeks in flight, feeding and mating. Of all the winged insects that flit about a summer pond, the dragonfly is the largest. It’s also the oldest. Huge dragonflies with 2½-foot wingspans were around 300 million years ago. Dragonflies hatch from eggs laid in water. As nymphs they spend about a year eating and trying to avoid being eaten. They breathe air through internal gills and, if escape becomes necessary—say from a water bug—they can expel water forcefully and propel themselves forward. Nymphs are ambush hunters, using their large binocular eyes to locate small prey. Dragon and damselflies must grow by molting their hard, external nymph shells (external skeletons, really) several times. Finally, in about a year for most species – three years for some – the nymph is ready to begin its metamorphosis into an adult. One night in spring or summer, the dragonfly nymph climbs out of the water onto a stalk of grass. Over a period of several hours it wiggles out of its larval form and emerges as a creature of the air, its wings folded on its back. It begins toTHINGS dry as blood rushes into the wings and organs and in about THINGS TO DO TO DO The 2015 half an hour the dragonfly is airborne. Carolina Between its maiden flight and death, the dragonfly has about eight weeks to fulfill its chief SPECIAL ISSUE: Chocolate St. Patrick’s Day Festival purpose: mating and reproduction. It is well prepared to survive, with two pairs of wings, Carolina Festival Chocolate each controlled separately, enabling it to swoop, hover, rise andMarti dive rapidly. Wings beat 25 to Carolina Salt Peterson: Festival Cold War Goodfly Reads 40 times per second and it can up to 60 mph when it spies Former an Spy especially juicy meal. CIA Where Eagles Fly The dragonfly’s head is Get almost Out ofall eyes and revolves on its thorax to see in all directions Party With a Purpose Your Rut Blue-Eyed Beauty: up to 120 feet. Its six bristly legs form a basket for carrying prey eaten in midair. € The Gannet What’s Biting? FREE! TAKE ONE!
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With gorgeous gossamer wings and brilliant colors, dragonflies are a delight to see hovering over ponds and streams.
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Native American Wampum
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THE NATURE ISSUE
Thank you for picking up Carolina Salt magazine, all about life on the Crystal Coast. Our articles are written by locals. Every month we look to our readers to keep our magazine fresh. If you have a story to tell, an event to promote or an interesting local photograph, send them our way.
Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter
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GREAT HORNED OWL
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INDEPENDENCE DAY Carteret County
Summer Fun for Kids
OUTDOOR NATURE CAMPS UNDERWATER FUN
Diving Our Coast In June
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OUTER BANKS WILDLIFE SHELTER
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Battle of the Bands
The state operates three public aquariums; one Happy in Pine Knoll Shores, another at Fort Fisher Callingand All Stop & Smell Artists! a third onValentine’s Roanoke Island, as well as Jennette’s The Roses! Day! The facilities are administered Pier in Nags Head. Otters Just Have by the Department ofWanna Environment and Natural Go ‘Into The Fun! Resources and Woods’ are designed to inspire appreciation Wigging Out for of North Carolina’s aquatic and conservation Locks of Love environments. For more information, log onto A Winter Visit from the Beautiful ncaquariums.com or call 800-832-FISH. Snowbird THINGS SOUTHERN GARDENING
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