A dragonfly flies from the creek and over the meadow to the big green lawn. She is a big girl, with a long, blue body, by far the largest insect in the park that evening. And round and round, above the fresh cut grass, this beautiful predator rides in search of prey.
The gnats: she can have them. Never had any use for gnats. They’re like small flies that don’t bite, so they’re not terribly offensive. But they often swarm a few feet above the ground on humid evenings. So if you’re doing anything active, such as running or riding a bike, then you’re guaranteed to get some extra protein if your mouth is open, plus they end up in eyes and nostrils.
The mosquitoes: please take them. If ever a human being liked mosquitoes, I have yet to meet that person. These are pests of the highest order, which is to say they are the lowest form of life. Plenty of people who do not like the idea of genetic engineering change their tune when it comes to mosquitoes. Could an innocuous mosquito be created that disrupts the breeding cycle of the others and drones all the disease-carrying monsters to a mosquitoey grave? Yes, I’ll raise my hand and support genetic engineering there if side effects are limited. Get rid of these awful things.
If a dragonfly can eat a few mosquitoes, she is very, very welcome up there. I see her buzzing above the lawn at the park where my kids and I are playing whiffleball. Please, dragonfly, take those mosquitoes and gnats. We don’t want them. You are welcome here.
Dragonflies are fearsome predators. When you see macro pictures, showing their heads and bodies close-up, you can begin to imagine what a poor mosquito feels like when one of these enormous, predacious helicopters buzzes in. Have you see their mandibles, those jagged insect jaws? Imagine them many times larger and those would fit in a scene from a horror movie. Dragonflies can crush the bodies of little flies and make instant noodles out of them.
As I stand in the shallow outfield, waiting for one kid to throw the plastic whiffleball and the other to hit it, I notice the dragonfly making one pass after another, far above my head. Well, it’s not that far, maybe 15 feet off the ground. But it’s well above my head, which is some consolation. In fact, it’s beautiful to watch. With the sunlight fading, I can’t see what color it is, but I imagine blue.
I miss the ball again because my kid is pulling these pitches. Her sister lobs them in slowly and then she crushes them to the left side of the infield, which is typical for a right handed hitter. As the designated fielder, I finally take the hint and begin my shift toward the third base side, playing a deep shortstop. I might have a chance of catching something over here, because that is where she’s been hitting most of them.
Source: Whiffle.com
And here’s the next pitch from her sister. Underhanded. A plastic-on-plastic crack-thump! And the tiny whiffle ball sails high. She hits a fly ball over my head, but it’s high. That should give me time to get under it and catch it. I backpedal beneath it and watch as the next scene plays out in slow motion.
All of us are watching the ball and watching that other object coming for it. The dragonfly is hunting this ball; I’m not kidding. From a few feet away, she makes an adjustment and heads straight for it. As the ball nears its height and begins to curve downward in my general direction, the dragonfly hits it, going fast. We hear a sickening buzzing sound. I can only imagine this is what happens when a spinning plastic sphere with holes in it impacts the rapidly moving wings of a dragonfly.
It’s an awful scene. None of us wants to watch this, but we cannot look away.
The ball bumps off the dragonfly and goes spinning off at an angle, heading behind second base. But none of us is watching the ball anymore. The dragonfly has been felled in flight and she begins to drop. Then she springs into action and tries to flap. It’s a sad thing to watch. She flaps and flops and gyrates spastically in the evening air. She looks like she’s been hurt badly.
As gravity takes its course and she falls closer to the ground with each flap, another object appears, heading straight for her. It’s one of the gray birds that sits on a fence post and chases gnats. With dusk coming and the sunlight disappearing, it’s somewhat surprising to see a bird out this late. She must be in search of one last meal.
And she’s in luck because she’s caught the big dragonfly in its final descent. Just before it hits the ground, this bird snatches it in her long beak, and off she goes to enjoy it or share with her chirpy birdlings in a nest somewhere. It’s enough to feed a whole chirpy family.
For my children, who throw and then hit the last whiffleball which fells the dragonfly, shock turns to horror in about five seconds. But then, just as suddenly as the first impact, the burden of guilt is lifted. The batted ball has not caused the death of that graceful insect. Quite naturally, with a little help from us, the dragonfly becomes the regular meal of another graceful flying creature. And perhaps we’ve helped that bird catch one final meal to feed the brood.
Mockingbird with meal. Creative Commons via Wikimedia.com by ForestWanderer.
Thus, life goes on for most of us. We have seen nature in action and helped it along a little bit. The stunning part is to see three separate impacts (the batted ball, the ball hitting the dragonfly, and the bird catching the falling dragonfly) all in a matter of a few short seconds. And thanks to the bird, the outcome is more satisfying than it could have been. In fact, I’m fairly sure one of my kids would have cried if the bird hadn’t come along to assuage the guilt. But with that helping hand, we head home with a story to tell.
All images are public domain unless otherwise credited.
Dragonflies are level out frightening in case you're a gnat, mosquito or other little bug. They don't just pursue down their prey. Rather, they catch them from the air with computed flying ambushes. Dragonflies can judge the speed and direction of a prey target and modify their trip to catch prey. They're skilled to the point that they have up to a 95 percent achievement rate when chasing.
This one targeted the ball like it was a missile!
he is ready to eradicate mosquito pests for you..
Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly? And now you tell me it's a damselfly in distress?
No fly zone?
No skeeter zone.
What a cool experience. Glad that the children got to behold it.
Dragonflies sometimes fly in formation.. I watched three in a 'V' formation flying over the yard and house.. The leader point bug triggered mosquitoes to escape.. The other two caught them.. There seemed to be communication between the three... I was hose washing things on the lawn, a large dragonfly got sprayed with water, and dropped to the grass, its wing covered with water droplets.. I picked it up, and dried its wings with a tissue, and released it..
That's amazing that they hunt in "packs". I haven't seen more than one at a time, but it does not surprise me too much, since they are very efficient hunters.
@donkeypong, What a interesting story you telling here behind your played plastic whiffleball game. But finally unfortunate disaster was happened to Dragonfly. But we need to understand what's environment balance. There are food chain system being.
Thank you for posted most important blog this time.
Actually the Dragonfly supporting to control and protect our naturalize environment eating mosquitoes, gnats indeed some of little bit sizes insects. Dragonfly seriously fearsome predators. I remember when I was child, I caught lot of dragonflies and keep hold then release to the sky. Then they were fly in the sky space very speedy using feathers.
When i buried my little brother, i saw a bright red dragonfly.. when i visit his grave i see one regularly, even one landing on my hand.. coincidence ? maybe.. but it gets stranger.. when we had our family weekend. 200 miles away, one landed on my hand while playing mini golf.
That sounds like a good omen or a spirit animal. Your brother has guardian angels.
I had a dragonfly totally hang out with me all day one day...I went to the pool early and was there all day long. He came and sat on my finger while I was in the water and I spike to him...he would fly off and return-at first only coming to me when I was in the water, but later sitting with me while I sunned...He flew away for up to a half hour sometimes, but came back over and over. We really enjoyed each other’s company that day...only twice did someone else even come to the pool and they swam for a bit and left...I eventually said goodbye as the sun was going down...
Yes, I've seen them before when swimming also. They certainly like water. Nice story!
The circle of life in all its glory, well almost. The ball played an unexpected role but to be honest, it sounds like that was the dragonflies own fault. We see lots so dragonflies outvonnthe rigercwhile fishing. It is always interesting to see them out at the middle of the lake. It means they have had a long flight and the boat is a welcomed landing spot. They must be hunting the many bugs I have been swatting all day. No complaints here!!
They seem to perform a valuable service.
This is beautiful. I swear if we're ever by the campfire and you start telling stories, I'm going to burn you all the marshmellows you want, or bacon, whatever you prefer.
Thanks. Glad you liked it.
Poor dragonfly :( but that's just life.
Dragonflies look cool, I remember watching them on some humid summer evening before the storm when I was young.
haha I raise my hand for supporting genetic engineering too, mosquitos are such a headache.
Very nice post.....@donkeypong
I used to try to catch dragonfly in my childhood.I play with it. When i saw it, I remembered my childhood life. These dragonfly color is so nice. I liked it.Thanks for it.
I don't like mosquitoes too. I remember when I was little, In our garden pond I used to flying dragonflies passing over my head like fighter plane. They comes in different color but what I loved most is the color red.
This thing about dragonfly eating mosquitos would be really helpful for me especially in my backyard there's alot of mosquitos although I don't think that they would stay only around my area lol. Wow where did you get those photos? they're pretty awesome :D
Pixabay.com has some good royalty-free ones.
Thanks @donkeypong you really are awesome you've got hig-valued posts, I think I need to find the right community that can value my posts I'm current at minnowsupport. Although I think I'm thinking too much ahead, I need learn more about steemit first :) Anyway thanks again
Wow such an in depth and spectacular story about a dragonfly. Although I feel like this is like one of those movies that you like so much and would have given it a 5 out of 5 if your favorite character, the main character, didn't wind up dying in the end. "Oh it was such a good movie, but, my favorite character died...so sad." haha Serious, it had me enthralled. Great writing. I will never look at one the same again. What would win in a fight between a Praying Mantis and a Dragon Fly? mmm Clash of the insect Titans? Well of course until a bird comes and eats them both.
It's like a Greek tragedy.
Sooo very true. haha :)
I know they eat bugs, but I've always been a little wary of Dragonflies. They always seem to want to fly too close to my face. Not being someone who likes being hit in the face (specifically the eyes) by armored flying objects, I try to keep my distance. Apparently I need to spot wearing my "Dragonfly Bait" cologne.
You could try walking around with a baseball bat. :)
I think I'm going to build a hat that has one of these one each side. That will scare the dragonflies away as bass are natural predators of dragonflies. Also, it will scare away pesky people as they will assume that I'm crazy. Ha ha. :D
Don't you just love when serendipity jumps in and you are allowed to witness something so amazing??!! I'm glad for your kids that the bird got the dragonfly; I had visions of you having to euthanize the poor thing in front of the kids. ugh
Wow what a story! Crazy that the impact altered the trajectory of the ball. Everyone loves dragonflies. Such drama here and really it seems like the bird provided the best of possible endings.
BTW the water nymph form of the dragonfly is an important predator of mosquito larvae. I am with you there, let's do get rid of mosquitoes please LOL
It surprised me, too. I guess whiffleballs don't have too much mass. Yes, anything to keep away those mosquitoes!
At least the dragonfly doesn't die for nothing and just hit by the ball, even though it was badly hurt and eventually will die soon but there's a bird that save the day and the life of that dragonfly was consumed to its purpose on why there is a dragonfly - to be the prey of other creature for them to survive. :)
I've never seen such interesting bright colorful dragonflies and so close!)
Thank you @donkeypong
Excellent story and beautiful photos, my friend and you shared with us your observations of the world of insects, where dragonflies have their deserved place, in which their benefit to humans is immediately noticeable. I also do not like mosquitoes, these insects will deliver many problems, especially in the evening and the fact that dragonflies catch them, is a plus for us. Of course, the life chain is not discontinuous and dragonflies too become prey for birds, but this is the law of life and can not get away from it! Thank you @donkeypong
I am friendly with the gnats , I known as ပုဇဥ္း that is myanmar Language.
bad luck of the dragonfly that was at the wrong time to receive the ball and be easy prey for the bird.
this does not happen very often they are things that happen and then he says go these is amazing everything happened very fast.
Dragonflies and butterflies 🦋 and moths too, are so beautiful, this doc is great! I learned so much about dragonflies, absolutely fascinating! Thank you for this, it’s like opening a gift!
Dragonflies live on every "continent", but "Antarctica." You will see dragonflies in warm, "tropical habitats." Dragonflies are "found" in "freshwater habitats." They mate in places where there is freshwater. Dragonflies can be found "near rivers, lakes, streams, ponds", "marshes, and swamps." You can see dragonflies in the "summer" because it is warm. In summer you will see them by "water."
very beautiful dragonfly,looks with beautiful colors,really amazing work sir @donkeypong
Astounding post! I do not really concur with the long prior far away piece of the story at 300 million years back; however the existence cycle of this animal needs to influence you to consider what we are educated in school about advancement. This animal begins as an egg through an astonishing mating (even double flying). At that point it forms into a sprite having inward gills living in the water and is a predator; at that point when the time is correct it moves out of the water, draws blood into its wonderful quad winged superstructure.
Wow very wonderful bird photography. I like it your great full post. thanks for sharing your grateful post.
Dragonflys are my most loved bug. They simply look so damn cool and excellent. Turns out a pool here is loaded with hatchlings and I needed to check whether they would change before we treat the pool water. Aint no chance I am holding up one more year. I will have ta catch and discharge.
Arriving on the scene around 300 million years ago, dragonflies are one of the first insects to inhabit this planet. They've had a long time to perfect the art of flying, hunting and just being amazing. Here are seven facts that will change the way you look at these unique, ancient and incredibly varied insects.
Dragonflies can intercept prey mid-air
Youthful dragonflies, called hatchlings or some of the time fairies or naiads, are oceanic and are as committed predators submerged as the grown-ups are noticeable all around. The practically wingless hatchlings are typically mottled or dull in shading, coordinating the silt or water plants among which they live. They have protruding eyes to some degree like the grown-ups, yet have an impressive anatomical structure not present in the grown-up. Called the "veil," it is a combination of the hatchling's third match of mouthparts. Lopsidedly huge, the veil overlays underneath both the head and thorax when it isn't being used. Toward the finish of the cover is an arrangement of fanglike pliers used to seize prey, for example, worms, shellfish, tadpoles, and little fish. Distinctive types of dragonfly hatchlings can be depicted as sprawlers, burrowers, hiders, or claspers. Their shape, digestion, and breath contrast concordantly with the microhabitat they possess.
A dragonfly is a creepy crawly having a place with the request Odonata, infraorder Anisoptera (from Greek ἄνισος anisos, "unequal" and πτερόν pteron, "wing", on the grounds that the hindwing is more extensive than the forewing). Grown-up dragonflies are described by substantial, multifaceted eyes, two sets of solid, straightforward wings, now and again with shaded patches, and a lengthened body. Dragonflies can be mixed up for the related gathering, damselflies (Zygoptera), which are comparative in structure, however normally lighter in fabricate; be that as it may, the wings of most dragonflies are held level and far from the body, while damselflies hold the wings collapsed very still, along or over the mid-region. Dragonflies are deft fliers, while damselflies have a weaker, fluttery flight. Numerous dragonflies have splendid luminous or metallic hues delivered by basic hue, making them prominent in flight. A grown-up dragonfly's compound eyes have about 24,000 ommatidia each.
oh!!, nice post donkeypong. I like this.
Dragonfly, (suborder Anisoptera), likewise called darner, fiend's bolt, or villain's darning needle, any of a gathering of approximately 3,000 types of ethereal savage bugs most normally found close freshwater living spaces all through the majority of the world. Damselflies (suborder Zygoptera) are in some cases additionally called dragonflies in that both are odonates (arrange Odonata).
Dragonfly species (Anisoptera) are described by long bodies with two thin combines of complicatedly veined, membranous wings that, while by and large straightforward, may have hued markings. Not at all like damselflies, the front and back wing sets are molded in an unexpected way. Likewise, dragonflies rest with their wings spread on a level plane, instead of held vertically against each other (except for one little family, Epiophlebiidae). Dragonflies have an all the more ground-breaking manufacture and are for the most part significantly more grounded fliers than damselflies. The globe skimmer (or meandering lightweight plane, Pantala flavescens), a transitory dragonfly, for instance, makes a yearly multigenerational excursion of approximately 18,000 km (around 11,200 miles); to finish the movement, singular globe skimmers fly in excess of 6,000 km (3,730 miles)— one of the most distant known relocations of all bug species. Dragonflies additionally have gigantic swelling eyes that involve the majority of the head, giving somewhere in the range of a field of vision moving toward 360 degrees.
One research group has verified that the sensory system of a dragonfly shows a relatively human limit with regards to particular consideration, ready to center around a solitary prey as it flies in the midst of a billow of comparatively vacillating creepy crawlies, similarly as a visitor at a gathering can take care of a companion's words while overlooking the foundation gab. Different scientists have distinguished a sort of ace circuit of 16 neurons that associate the dragonfly's mind to its flight engine focus in the thorax. With the guide of that neuronal bundle, a dragonfly can track a moving target, ascertain a direction to block that objective and unobtrusively modify its way as required ... When in doubt, the chased stays confused until it's everywhere.
There are couple of species in the set of all animals that can coordinate the dragonfly for fantastic flying capacity. Dragonflies have two arrangements of wings with muscles in the thorax that can work each wing freely. This enables them to change the edge of each wing and practice prevalent nimbleness noticeable all around. Dragonflies can fly toward any path, including sideways and in reverse, and can drift in a solitary spot for a moment or more. This stunning capacity is one factor in their prosperity as airborne snare predators — they can move in on clueless prey from any course.
Amazing you capture the best !!
Great story. You go over a number of different topics but they flow fluidly and sensibly together.
That's a fine story to read! I guess this dragonfly thought she was invincible when she decided to hunt the ball.
When I was a kid and we called them helicopters as we were unaware of the actual name and used to catch them and tie their tail with threads and then let them free to see their takeoff,,, m missing those days
wow beautiful picture,i used to call helicopter when i was a child :)
Amazing post! Actually, From the time a sewing needle egg hatches, it will live anyplace from six months to 6 years, however solely concerning 2 months as Associate in Nursing actual sewing needle. (fact, most of the time spent is as a nymph within the water before the dragonfly’s metamorphosis into a full big dragonfy.)
In the recent days, dragonflies would search out dangerous youngsters and stitch their mouths in conjunction with their claspers whereas they slept. Dragonflies were called the devil’s repair needles. (myth – dragonflies don’t have pockets to hold the thread to the beds of sleeping wicked kids.
Love from @steemrobot
amazing photography with a great article
thanks for sharing
Mockkingbird is very cute ,all the photographs are stunning, sorry I don,t like to meet any mosquito .
It's natural things that every small fish swallow by a bigger fish. Same thing is here a small insect is swallow by a bigger one.
Dragonfly eat mosquito.. and Dragonfly is eaten by other insects.
And thanks for sharing your experience with us..
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Dragonfly is a transcendent predator animals, the success rate in hunting prey can reach 95 per cent, with the ability to fly aerial combat, diving in water, fly backwards, rotates 360 degrees and turned around 180 degrees, even technologically advanced capabilities It can reach 30 miles per hour and has been around since the three hundred million years ago.
Among these insects , mosquitoes are the worst for us.
That's a really beautiful story of the cycle of life! And, in a sense, an object lesson for your kids as well, on how nature works. Indeed, the bird made the perfect conclusion to the story.
I'm reminded of being quite little, and having my mom explain the cycle of life to me after we'd watched a nature program, and a pride of lions had killed a zebra... and I was upset by that. "When the lions catch the zebra, it's good for the lion, but bad for the zebra." But it's also the nature of things, just like with the gnat-dragonfly-bird cycle.
Beautifully told, too!
Good post.
https://steemit.com/dragonfly/@netaterra/blue-dragonfly
My post.. about dragonfly. Some pictures made by me, several days ago.