Dragonfly Facts and Symbolism
Dragonfly Facts
Dragonflies are beautiful insects that have been around for over 300 million years, although the earliest dragonflies were massive compared to the ones we enjoy today. Fossil remains have been found in Kansas of a large dragonfly with a wingspread of 2.5 ft from the Permian Period.
Dragonflies are harmless insects and have inspired numerous myths (albeit negative ones) and nicknames with their elusiveness, beautiful shimmering wings, and erratic flight patterns. Some nicknames for the dragonfly include:
- Devil’s Darning Needle (it was thought that dragonflies would sew the mouths of bad children shut while they slept)
- Snake Doctor (dragonflies were thought to be protectors of snakes, sewing them back together if injured or bringing them back to life.)
- Adder’s Servant (comes from the Welsh name gwas-y-neidr because of the dragonfly's association with snakes.)
- Øyenstikker (the Norwegian name for dragonflies which means eye poker)
Despite its negative mythology, the dragonfly is one of the most beneficial insects to humans, and they are revered in Japan as the country’s national emblem.
Dragonflies belong to the order Odonata, and the suborder Anisoptera. There are over 5,000 species, and it is one of the fastest insects in the world, with one being clocked in at 36 mph in Australia.
Dragonfly Eyes
Dragonflies have compound eyes which give them a 360-degree view of the world around them, although their vision is limited mostly to movement. They lack the clarity of vision that humans and other animals have; however, they can see ultraviolet and polarized light, allowing them to navigate more easily.
Their compound eyes are comprised of 30,000 ommatidia, which are essentially tiny little eyes with their own cornea, lens, and retina. Because of this, their vision is essentially a mosaic of everything around them. They can also so see a wider range of colors including UV.
They also have a special area, directly in front of their compound eyes called ocelli that is flat and is concentrated with eye cells, which allows them to pinpoint insects as they fly. There are three ocelli, one located on each side of the vertex and one in front of the vertex. The vertex is directly in front of the compound eyes and is essentially the anchor for the three ocelli (see photo below).
Because of their large eyes and ability to perceive quick movements, the dragonfly only has two blind spots. If you want to sneak up on a dragonfly to get a closer look, or take a picture, approach it slowly from below or behind. It will never see you coming.
Dragonfly Wings
They have the ability to hover because they have two pairs of iridescent wings, which typically flap at about 30 beats per second. Compared to bees, which flap their wings at 300 beats per second, a dragonfly is slow, but they are the strongest fliers in the insect world.
Their wings are strong enough to allow dragonflies to hover even in the strongest of headwinds.
They can fly in all different directions, including in reverse, because their wings are not jointed (like butterflies) and can be moved independently of each other.
This is because a dragonfly uses a direct flight mechanism, meaning each wing is innervated by a muscle that is attached to the base of the wing, allowing it to be moved individually.
Interestingly, when a dragonfly is in flight, there is a phase difference in the front and hind wings. So, when the front pair of wings move in the upward direction, the hind pair of wings moves in the downward direction and vice versa. In the video below, you can clearly see the phase difference as the female Eastern Amber Wing dragonfly moves her wings.
How the Dragonfly Utilizes the Direct Flight Mechanism
The photo below is a close up of the wing musculature and dorsal trachea or breathing hole, which is found just above the musculature for the fore wings.
Dragonfly wings also have a pterostigma, a latin term meaning "wing mark." The pterostigma is found on the leading edge of each wing and acts like a weight which helps stabilize the wing during flight.
This weight prevents vibration that is typical of thin wings at a specific velocity, which would prevent the dragonfly from gliding quickly.
The costa is a long vein that actually comprises the leading edge of the wing. It's also the strongest part of the wing, and it aids the dragonfly in cutting through the air during flight.
Like a typical insect, dragonflies have six legs, but cannot walk. However, they can perch on just about anything. Their legs form a round pouch-like shape, which allows the dragonfly to easily grab and eat prey in flight. It is almost impossible for the prey to escape.
The Dragonfly Life Cycle
The life cycle of a dragonfly can vary from six months to six years, but most of this time is spent as an aquatic nymph.
The eggs are laid on a plant in water, or in the water itself if mom can’t find a proper plant. This is most commonly done in swamp-like areas where lily pads and frogs are found.
Once the eggs hatch, the larvae emerge as nymphs, or naiads. Naiads live in the water for the duration of their development, which can take up to four years. Although rare, the nymphs may come on land to feast on mosquito eggs.
The adult dragonfly emerges after the nymph sheds its skin (called exuvia), usually on the stem of a plant. The adult only lives for about two months. Dragonflies will often culminate around the water in which they were born. Swampy areas tend to have swarms of dragonflies.
What Do Dragonflies Eat?
Dragonflies can eat just about anything they can catch. Some of their favorite meals include:
- Mosquitoes
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Mayflies
- Gnats
- Flies
- Bees
- Other dragonflies
Dragonflies are carnivorous from the time they hatch, and the nymphs have voracious appetites just like the adults. They are also indiscriminate in their food choices, making them cannibals. Many of the larger dragonflies such as darners will eat other dragonflies if they can catch them.
The nymphs are just as fast in water as adult dragonflies are on land. They have the ability to expel water from an anal opening, which acts like jet propulsion. Even underwater, they can catch just about anything.
In about 30 minutes, an adult dragonfly can eat its own weight in insects. This gluttonous appetite keeps mosquito and other insect pest populations from getting out of control including ants, termites, and even crickets.
The largest dragonflies, called Dragon Hunters, can capture and eat the largest of insects. They are so large that they can even capture and kill a hummingbird.
Dragonfly Symbolism
Like dragons, dragonflies have been immortalized in mythology all over the world. In fact, the name comes from a dragon.
Native Americans believe the insect was actually once a dragon who was tricked into shape-shifting to the form of a dragonfly by a coyote. Once the dragon took the form of the dragonfly, it couldn’t shift back.
To the Native Americans, the dragonfly represents swiftness, illusion, and change, which are three characteristics attributed to this insect around the world.
These beautiful insects have, also, been seen as evil in many cultures. The nickname “devil’s darning needle” came from the myth that dragonflies would seek out bad children and sew their mouths shut while they slept.
The nickname “snake doctor” came from the myth that dragonflies would follow snakes and either sew them together if they were injured, or bring them back to life.
Are Dragonflies Good Luck?
Not all cultures thought of them in negative terms, however. Dragonflies once served as a sign for fishermen. Wherever it hovered, there were plenty of fish to be caught, or if it hovered over the fisherman, it was thought to bring good luck.
Historically, dragonfly symbolism was used in love spells, and it was thought that dragonflies were lucky. Today, it is more commonly used to help one let go of the past, assist in transforming one’s life, and understanding dreams.
Dragonfly Meaning
The dragonfly has been seen in many pagan cultures as having magical attributes similar to that of a butterfly, including metamorphosis, or change and transformation. This is because of their life cycle, but also because both male and female dragonflies change colors as they age.
Dragonflies are also attributed to the magical properties of:
- Cycles of Life
- The Psyche
- Renewal and Rebirth
- Emotion
- Transcendence
- Transformation
The dragonfly is also associated adaptability or the ability to "go with the flow." It is also believed that dragonflies can travel between dimensions, and are messengers of dreams and illusions. The ability to travel between dimensions also connects them with fairies, nature spirits, and the realms of other magical creatures.
Dragonflies can also be omens. If a dragonfly lands on you, it is seen to be good luck. Seeing a dragonfly in dreams or if one suddenly appears in your life, it is a sign of caution. Something in your life is hidden from view, or the truth is being kept from you.
Questions & Answers
© 2012 Melissa Flagg COA OSC
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Comments
I convinced a red dragonfly to land on my hand yesterday. As his/her feet tickled my hand, I turned my hand after a few seconds and the dragonfly flew off.
Thank you for this information. I had one land on my finger today.. I felt very privileged, as I love dragonflies!
I haven't had any land on me but, two blue green dragonflies were zipping all around my granddaughter and myself and a Red Cardinal landed right around where the dragonflies came from and landed in a cedar tree and sat on a dead branch... meanwhile the two dragonflies zipped around us two...loved the write up!
Yesterday a Dragon fly tackled a horse fly that was attacking me and they went spinning to the ground . I approached and he looked back at me ,shook his head and commenced ripping the horse flies chest area apart like a vampire! He or she " protected me .. My daughter and I let them land on our fingers and hold the hose while its running and the actually drink the water....They trust us.....,but how do they ALL know they can trust certain people?, no matter where we are they trust us.
Spectacular sharing of information !!! Awe was over me the entire reading. The end was explosive!
OUCH!!!
g
Very informative piece! Truly enjoyed the beautiful pixs & clarification of the negative beliefs/symbolism behind the dragonfly. In Sept 2017, shortly after Hurricane Harvey hit my local Houston, Tx., area my siblings & I were faced w/a bittersweet, sad decision to sell our parents beloved family home our parents lived in/retired prior to their demise @ the Rio Grande Valley area. Those of us who travelled to close on the home took a last photo in front of the home. Once I saw the photo on my cellphone, I noticed the white shape/silhouette of a dragonfly appeared @ my right side by my hair/ear!
Rescued one that got stuck indoors, it was trying to escape through the skylight (which was sealed..so, impossible). Took a long handled microfiber mop to gently catch it and quickly transport outside. It PROMPTLY flew away.
1 week later that same blue dragonfly, had turned brown, and attached itself to our kitchen screen window outside. I was able to take close up pics before it died and blew away on a very windy day. We knew it was the same one because of a particular marking it had. Don’t know why it returned to die, but it kind of felt like an honor and a complement!
For over a week now, every place i go, i have one or two dragonflies flying around, some within arms length. I just found your post about them. This is quite amazing. I'm still a bit spooked by all the dragonflies, but they are so beautiful. Thanks for the great article!
Thank you for this. I definitely needed to read this today
I was sitting on a bench today and all upset and a dragon fly landed on my hand and just sat there for like 3 minutes
Loved this article too! I’ve had soooo many DF fly around me and my house. And just 45 minutes ago, a beautiful blue green one landed on my stomach and then sat on my arm rest. Meanwhile I was thinking about the universe giving me a sign about a few uncertainties. Interesting...
I enjoyed this read. Thank you!
This is a wonderful article, informative and interesting. I love how you explain the parts of the dragonflies. They sound like good machines, and kinda remind me of helicopters of a superior nature. Interesting too that their wings change color with age. The myths related to dragonflies are most interesting as well.
I saw tons of dragonflies flying all around my front of house. I never saw so many. I was putting more love and light in the world and said to my fiancé "I AM devinly protected "by my guardian angel and archangels. I took pictures couldn't really see all of them so I took video and low and behold blue flying ORB!!!
Great article. I've always liked the dragonfly, and now I know a lot more about this beautiful, magical insect. Thank you.
Namaste
Great hub about dragonflies. I've always wondered about them and this was good to know. Voted up!
@Daughter of Maat I really did enjoy your article. I absolutely love your photos and of how colorful and focused they are. You are a great writer indeed. Voted up and shared!
Awesome Hub... and I noticed all the photos are by you! I have tried to snap dragonflies and they are hard to photograph! This subject matter was something I did not know and I appreciated knowing because I have many dragonflies around my property and I sure welcome them when there are mosquitoes around! They are a welcome sight and boy are they busy!
Just wanted to come by and tell you that this is an amazing hub - I love your photos. I am completing a hub on dragonflies - from my own experience and symbolism - and I'll be sure to link to yours. Fabulous - voted and shared. :)
Quite interesting and useful hub. Very well written and very beautiful hub. i VOTED it UP...
Very interesting.... I have to admit, dragonflys scare the living daylights out of me. I was once in a field and I swear I was attached by a bunch of them. To this day, when I see them fluttering around, I have a tendency to run the other direction. I must admit though, they are beautiful creatures! :) Very interesting hub!
- AUTHOR
@Paradise7 That stat is pretty hard to wrap my head around. Eating my own body weight in 30 minutes, that's just insane! But I guess their metabolism is so fast, they don't gain an ounce! ;)
We're actually quite lucky, in the spring we have a ton of them flying around, but unfortunately, not enough to keep the mosquitoes at bay! But we do have quite a variety of colors!
- AUTHOR
@mizjo I know what you mean, they are difficult to get pictures of, they're just so fast! I'm really surprised when I get good pictures of them. Sometimes they let me get so close! And they are just so beautiful!
Really fascinating info. Thank you. I thought this was so well put together. Voracious little beasts, aren't they? Can you imagine eating your own body weight inside of 30 minutes????!!!!
I've always thought of them as beautiful and beneficial; also, at least around here, quite rare to be seen. The pictures here are excellent!!
I love dragonflies. They have always seemed beautiful, graceful and almost magical to me. And to find that they eat all those pesky insects is a bonus to having them around. It's hard to photograph them though, as they don't hover or stand around long enough .
- AUTHOR
@Mr. Happy Air assault units... lmao I like that! I remember one day I was walking out of the front porch and two dragonflies dive bombed these bees that were trying to get to me, and I'm deathly allergic to bees. Ever since that day, I've had a very different perception of these beautiful insects!
I didn't know about the luck thing either. I had a blue one land on me a while back and I really wish I could remember what happened shortly thereafter. But, I'm sure nothing bad happened! :D
I hope you and yours have the warmest of celebrations and my brightest blessings to you, dear friend, in 2013!!
- AUTHOR
@thumbi7 Thank you, I'd be very interested in learning about dragonflies in India, it would make a great hub if you were so inclined :D
- AUTHOR
@Peggy W, why thank you for the link! I didn't know you wrote a hub on dragonflies as well, I'll have to check it out tonight!!!
- AUTHOR
@Kris Heeter, thank you!! I'm always full of "useless information" as some call i, but it turns out most of the info is actually useful... I was ecstatic to find this pictures. The problem I had was choosing them, I wanted to add all the ones I found!!
- AUTHOR
@Iguidenetwork, I'm terrified of insects, and I used to be afraid of dragonflies because of the buzzing noise they make and when they bump into you they feel hard, at least that was my perception. I have since come to find dragonflies and butterflies to be the least offensive of the insects, and some of them I actually find to be gorgeous.
"Dragonflies are harmless (unless you’re a mosquito)" - That is pretty funny and that is precisely one of the main reasons I like to have dragonflies around. A good Native friend of mine calls them his air-assault units lol They do great for keeping the mosquitoes away and for one who spends time in the bush, they are truly appreciated sometimes.
"Dragonflies can also be omens. If a dragonfly lands on you it is seen to be good luck." - I didn't know about this. They do land on me more often than not - I like them though; some of them have spectacular colours (like the one in your photo). I actually photographed some at very close range.
Fun article and very informative! Thank You for writing it.
If I don't pass by again: Happy Celebrations and all the very best in 2013!!
Cheers! : )
Very interesting read..
In our part of India there are many phrases and songs related to dragonfly
Thanks for sharing
Enjoyed this hub. I have also written about dragonflies and will link this hub to mine. I got great photos of one posing in our garden one day. Up, useful and interesting votes.
This is a really nice and informative hub. I love all the trivia, especially the nicknames. You've chosen some beautiful pictures to show! Voted up and sharing:)
I don't touch insects very often even butterflies. But I liked dragon files and maidenflies and I would touch them (of course after that I set them free). Really interesting article about them. Voted up, etc.
- AUTHOR
@Vocalcoach Thank you! I know, I was surprised to learn that they can fly backwards!! I love dragonflies. They are just gorgeous insects! :D
Dragonflies have always fascinated me so I have enjoyed this hub so much! I had no idea that they have been around for so long. And I am surprised to find that they can fly in all directions including backwards. A great hub that deserves my vote up and across. Thank you so very much for this fantastic information!
- AUTHOR
@Jlava73, thank you!! I'll have to look up that movie, I don't thin I've ever heard of it, much less seen it!
I'm so glad you enjoy my topics... I like writing about them *wink* In all seriousness, it is nice to hear that people actually like to read what I write. I remember when I first started writing I wondered if anyone would find what I had to say interesting. Pageviews and stats say a lot, but it's nothing when compared to hearing it from a reader, so thank you!
I remember as a child some of my friends telling me these creatures sewed your lips together. Your hub also reminded me of the movie Dragonfly which I found fascinating. I always enjoy reading your hubs because you pick such great topics.
- AUTHOR
@mythbuster thank you! I had fun writing this one, and I was dumbfounded myself when I say the cell phone pics come back so clear and detailed. If you compared their eating habits to the rest of us, they'd definitely be labeled pigs!! They are resilient too, we had one trapped in our garage yesterday, and he got caught in a web. He somehow got free, but had the silk wrapped around his legs and wings. I was afraid to help because if I pulled too hard on the web I was afraid I'd take a leg or wing with it. This little guy danced his way around the garage and landed on my car several times. We got a good look at him then, you could see him breathing extremely hard, his little abdomen was going a mile a minute. He actually freed himself, and my hubby caught him and put him outside where he flew away. How he escaped my cat, I'll never know lol....
I've enjoyed this hub a great deal, Daughter of Maat. The pictures you took show off the dragonflies nicely. I'm surprised that a cell took such good pictures. The "Devil's darning needle" handle for dragonflies and the reason for the title was unknown to me before reading about this here. I also didn't realize they can eat so much - wow! Thanks for sharing this information.
- AUTHOR
I agree! I wish we could have a pet dragonfly indoors for the mosquitoes that get in when we open the doors! I had a blue one land on my white shirt a while back. And I'm normally freaked out by "bugs" landing on me, but this little guy was so beautiful I didn't want him to leave! I absolutely LOVE dragonflies! :D
Thanks for reading and commenting, so glad you enjoyed it.
Of all the insects, I am charmed by dragonflies and love when they land on me so I can take a close look since they are so gorgeous!
They hover around in the evenings when the mosquitos come out so they are doubly welcome at those times since they flit back and forth doing a tremendous job of clearing out the pests!
Enjoyed your Hub!
- AUTHOR
Thank you D.A.L.! Glad you enjoyed the hub! Dragonflies are beautiful creatures and fascinating is a great word to describe them. I just adore them. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
Hi nice to meet you. Love this hub which is both informative and enhanced by your great images. Dragonflies are fascinating creatures. Enjoyed this one.
- AUTHOR
Thank you Angela! Your too kind!! :D
Michelle is right this truely is amazing. I will share this for you. I simply love dragon flys!
- AUTHOR
lol I hear ya Michelle! I normally run from all insects, but after I had a dragonfly land on the front of my shirt and stay there despite my screams, I figured they couldn't be too bad lol. They are gorgeous and their colors are so brilliant.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting! I hope a dragonfly lands on you! :D
A very well rounded and informative hub! And the pictures are absolutely stunning. I don't usually like to get within 10 ft of an insect so I never really appreciated just how cool a dragonfly can look up close. Now that I know having one land on you can be considered an omen of good luck I wont run screaming if it ever happens again :-) Voted up and more!
- AUTHOR
Thank you kitty!!! I'm honored that you linked to my hub! I'll have to go read your hub on the jackal! I'm intrigued, I love jackals!!
Again, thank you, you're too kind!
I actually wrote a dragonfly spirit guide hub awhile back, but this was even better than mine! Awesome info. on the dragonfly animal itself. I just wrote a jackal spirit guide hub, which was inspired by your Anubis hub...I ended up having a dream of a jackal and decided to write it. I put a link to your hub in it too. ;)
- AUTHOR
Thank you Prasetio30! I appreciate you reading, commenting and voting. I didn't know dragonflies were associated with rain, but it makes sense since their born in water. Thanks for teaching me something new! :D
I love dragonfly. Most of people in my region believe that the day where many dragonfly flew around, it's become a symbol that the rain will come soon. But now I learn another symbolism of dragon fly from this hub. I learn many things here. Thanks for writing. Voted up and pressing the buttons here (useful, awesome, interesting, beautiful). Take care :-)
Prasetio
- AUTHOR
I agree, life would be much simpler then!
I think I might like to be a dragonfly in one of my lives. Thanks for SHARING.
Good hub, DoM...voted up and useful. I'm curious why the dragonfly could not shape shift back to the dragon? Maybe it was Wile E. Coyote's faulty Acme Shape Shifter that he used? Enjoy your day!
- AUTHOR
@phoenix The dragonflies have just started coming out in full force here in Florida, and my daughter was asking how they got their name (she unknowingly inspired this hub). She loves to watch them hover! We have quite a few red and green dragonflies. The beautiful blue ones aren't as common, unfortunately. Blue is my favorite color lol.
@algarveview Thank you for sharing! I didn't know much about dragonflies either, so when my daughter asked, I thought "why not?" I was fascinated by their mythology myself. The story of the shape-shifting dragon was awesome. I always wondered how they got their name.
Hello, Daughter of Maat, really interesting hub, I didn't know much about dragonflies and it was interesting to learn more about them, especially all the myths about them, particularly liked that one about the shape-shift... Voted up, interesting and sharing!
When the weather gets warm, I often see electric-blue dragonflies flitting around the garden. They so pretty and they look like mini helicopters flying here, there and everywhere.
- AUTHOR
Thank you TToombs. I love dragonflies, this hub was actually inspired by the picture I took with my cellphone. I was amazed at how close the little guy let me get so I did some research!
Thanks for reading and commenting!!
I have always loved dragonflies and maidenflies. This was great! :) Voted up and more!
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