Page 32 - World of Animals - Issue #31

LORD

OF THE

FLIES

Dragonflies and damselflies are talented pilots

and skilled hunters, able to fly higher, further and
faster than any other insects. So why are they
disappearing from our planet?

Words Matt Ayres

As descendants of an insect family that emerged They might look like innocent fairies hovering

during the Triassic period, dragonflies and daintily around ponds and streams, but dragonflies

damselflies were among the first flying animals on and damselflies are some of the world’s deadliest
Earth. These ancient bugs are collectively known as hunters. They are fully carnivorous and catch 95
Odonata, with more than 5,000 species currently per cent of the prey that they pursue. Having four
buzzing about our planet. powerful wings means they’re capable of some

People regularly confuse damselflies for amazing aerial manoeuvres, and those big eyes
dragonflies, but once you know the difference it’s provide radar-like vision, locking on to targets and

easy to tell them apart. The dragonfly has a thicker refusing to let them escape.

body than its spindly cousin, and its compound Sadly, these impressive insects face difficult
eyes are so big that they touch one another, times. One in ten species in the Odonata family is

while damselfly eyes are smaller and separated. endangered, mainly due to habitat changes affecting

Dragonflies also have a shorter, broader pair of rear the water where they lay their eggs. Learning about
wings, and all four wings remain outstretched after their unique behaviours and environmental needs is

the insect lands. Damselflies have equally-sized crucial to securing a positive future for dragonflies

wings that fold over their bodies while they rest. and damselflies around the world.
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