Page 128 - World of Animals - Deadly Predators
P. 128
DRAGONFLIES
& DAMSELFLIES
Looks can be deceiving – meet two of the most
successful predators on the planet
Words Sarah Spinney
ith their beautiful colours pond, take a minute to think about the poor
and elegant flight, you mosquito, fly or other small insect that will
would be forgiven for become their next meal.
thinking that dragonflies Damselflies, meanwhile, have roamed
W are seemingly harmless the Earth since the time of the dinosaurs
insects. However, scientists believe that and are found on every continent except
they may just be one of the most successful Antarctica. While they may seem more
predators in the animal kingdom. When we delicate and dainty than dragonflies, they
think about predators we often think of the too are voracious predators, preying on
largest carnivores at the top of the food mosquitoes, flies and other small insects
chain. But while an African lion may only kill near to water bodies. They are not quite as
25% of the animals that it hunts, dragonflies stealthy as their stockier relatives, choosing
capture an astonishing 95%. to hover and pluck their prey off vegetation
There are several factors that make these rather than intercepting them in mid-flight.
airborne critters such deadly predators. Damselflies hold their spiny hind legs in a
First of all, they are superb fliers. Reaching basket shape to scoop their prey off leaves
speeds of up to 97 kilometres (60 miles) per and grasses, before transferring it to their
hour, they can also fly backwards and hover. front legs to devour it.
Dragonflies also have the incredible ability Although their hit rate may be lower than
of intercepting their prey in mid-air. Judging dragonflies, they can hunt in a much larger
the trajectory of a moving object while also range of temperatures. Damselflies have
moving is a difficult hunting tactic, and is been observed hunting in cold snaps when
usually only done by animals with far more dragonflies are often grounded. They may
complex nervous systems. Most other insects also hunt at dawn and dusk when it is too
would rely on catching up with their prey in cool for dragonflies to fly. The males are
flight rather than carrying out a calculated incredibly territorial, and may patrol their
airborne ambush. patch for several hours at a time. Even as
Whereas we have one lens in each eye, the a nymph, damselflies are deadly predators.
dragonfly has up to 28,000. This astonishing The nymphs lie in wait on submerged rocks
vision allows them to target their prey with and plants. When they sense a potential
lethal accuracy, devouring it in seconds with meal approaching, the nymph’s extendable
their serrated teeth. So the next time you are scoop-like jaws reach out to snatch the prey
watching them serenely fly over your local in a split second.
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