ON THE WILD SIDE
The name dragonfly has only been used since the 17th Century. This insect family is made up of two distinct kinds of fliers.
There’s the smaller, delicate damselfly (or “devil’s needle” in old English) and the bigger, more impressive dragonflies (or “horse-stingers”).
It used to be believed that anywhere you saw a dragonfly, an adder would be lurking nearby (despite them having completely different habitats). Dragonflies have four wings that they can move independently of each other, which gives them the incredible ability to fly in any direction. They can fly straight up and down, and even backwards, a feat that is rarely seen in nature.
They are impressive hunters and catch prey in mid-air by grabbing it with their feet.
It is a common belief even today that dragonflies will sting you. Although a dragonfly has absolutely no ability to sting, if grabbed roughly they will actually bite you as hard as they can.
This usually isn’t enough to do any damage. They aren’t aggressive against people and will only bite if they believe they are in some kind of danger.
EVER been pond dipping? If you have children it’s an incredible way to get some hands-on learning about nature. I’d recommend it – but always make sure you stay safe.
Dragonflies have nearly 360-degree vision. The only bit they can’t see is where their body and wings block the view. Dragonflies spend the first few years of their life underwater as nymphs, and when they grow their wings they only live for a few months.
Eggs laid early in the season usually hatch the same year, but they can wait up to a whole year before hatching.
Don’t assume similar colours are the same insect! Males and females can be different colours, with some being dazzling blue, green or red shades.