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Dragons on the dock

© Van Waffle

One of the best sources of entertainment at the cottage each summer is the air show. And I don't mean airplanes, though the occasional sea plane uses our lake as a runway. Helicopters? Not exactly, though we saw several fly overhead this summer, presumably enforcing the total fire ban on account of Ontario's hot, dry weather.

The real air show comes from dragonflies and damselflies.

One of the reasons insects get so little respect or interest is that most are small and difficult to distinguish from one another. Most of them seem to nibble our roses, or our own ankles when we're trying to enjoy the better things Nature has to offer. Few insects are as easy to observe and enjoy as birds or wildflowers. Even entomologists require a microscope or at least a hand lens to tell apart many species of fly and beetle.

Butterflies have begun attracting more enthusiasts. In fact they draw from the ranks of birders many experienced observers looking for a new challenge.

Dragon watching

But members of Order Odonata, the dragonflies and damselflies, are also excellent candidates. Some species are tricky, but many can be recognized without magnification in the field.

And what is not to admire about a dragonfly? They are the most accomplished of flying insects. Separate control of the muscles in each of their four wings, which also have a strong network of veins to support the transparent membranes, make them nimble acrobats. In addition, the flow of haemolymph, insect blood, helps them regulate the temperature of their wing muscles for more effective use. These bugs can manoeuvre in any direction, even backward, with disconcerting speed.

Besides, dragonflies are efficient predators of all the insects which usually dampen our enthusiasm for cottage life and camping, including flies, blackflies and mosquitoes. And their immature form, the aquatic naiad, is an even more voracious predator on insect larvae. They make our outdoor environment more hospitable. Nobody should want to expose these critters to toxic chemicals.

Predatory mind

The dragonfly's airborne dexterity and hunting prowess hint at rudimentary intelligence. Just watch a big dragonhunter (Hagenius brevistylus) patrolling the air above a stream or bay; with such deliberation, it seems to know exactly what it's doing and what it's looking for. In fact, about 80 per cent of their brains are thought to process the information from their relatively huge and complex eyes. A dragonfly's vision is acute, and essential to their predatory role. On the other hand, dragonflies are not very discerning, and will chew anything they can grab in their claws and draw to their mouths.

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