Capturing dragonflies is a challenge—almost impossible to do while they are hunting; and some are extremely arduous to identify as their colors are variable and usually change dramatically within a week of emerging, seemingly insignificant differences distinguish some species. Just finding some dragonflies may be challenging—the names of bog haunters, stream cruisers, the pine barrens bluet, and seaside dragonlet describes their preferred habitats. What Good Are Dragonflies? Adult dragonflies and damselflies are among the best aerial insect predators during the day (replaced by bats at night). Swallows and swifts may capture as many insects (including many dragonflies), but these birds do not have the agility and finesse of the odonates. Dragonflies often stop in mid flight, drop their tail, and fly 90 degrees upward to capture a mosquito. Larval dragonflies (nymphs) live underwater and breathe via gills. They are equipped with a hinged lower jaw that shoots out, pierces a small fish, tadpole, or other insect, and pulls it back to be eaten. Some lie in ambush, others crawl or swim through submerged vegetation. Odonates may stay in the nymphal stage from two months to five or six years depending on water temperatures and the size of the adult, feeding their entire life, even under the ice in winter. How Dangerous Are Dragonflies? Although a successful hunt spells death to the unwary insect, and despite being called darning needles, devil’s needle, snake doctor (because people thought they brought snakes back to life) and other dangerous sounding names, dragonflies pose no problems to humans. They do not sew your lips or eyelids shut, sting (even though they curl their tails around as if to do so, their “stinger” is used to hold the female while mating), or even bite humans. They attempt to bite if a finger is pushed into their mouths. The bite of the largest is a slight pinch that feels like someone scratching the surface of your skin. Large nymphs pinch only slightly harder. You can learn more about dragonflies at http://www.dragonflies.org/faq.htm#faq5, and I have posted more pictures of them at http://picasaweb.google.com/al.burchsted/Dragonfly_Days#. I will be leading a walk to look at dragonflies and butterflies with the East Lyme Library on Saturday, Sept. 26. Sign up with Lisa Timothy at the library (860-739-6926) or at ltimothy@ely.lioninc.org. Albert Burchsted is a field biologist recently retired from the College of Staten Island, part of the City University of New York. He lives in Niantic and can be reached via e-mail at al.burchsted@gmail.com
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