Abdominal larval spines in dragonfly larvae provide protection against fish predators. Hence, we expect variation in traits that protect against predators to vary over geographical areas where predators vary in past and present abundance. Bookmark.Presence or absence of predators selects for different kind of morphologies. Flycatchers, small falcons, spiders, frogs, fish, robber flies and even ants turn the tables on one of the animal kingdom’s most successful hunters.Īnimal Adaptations, Animal Anatomy, Animal Diet, Fauna, Insects, Nature, Outdoor Column, Young. Then other nymphs climb on aquatic vegetation and stalk their prey like a cat stalks a mouse.Įven though dragonflies may be one of the most successful predators in the animal kingdom, they are not at the top of the food chain like lions and great white sharks. Other nymphs hide in the bottom detritus with only their eyes and face exposed and then strike at any bottom dweller that passes by. ![]() Some nymphs burrow below the sandy or muddy bottom and grab midge larvae as they encounter them. Just as adult dragonflies forage in different ways, so do the nymphs. ![]() Nymphs eat almost anything including tadpoles, mosquitoes, fish, other insect larvae and each other. Then the nymph retracts its labium to bring the prey into its mandibles (jaws). The palps open and shut and can be pointed to skewer the prey or spoon-shaped to enclose the prey. Nymphs capture prey by using hydrostatic pressure to project their labium (lower lip) to grab the prey with a pair of palps (grasping organs) located on the forward end of the labium. Nymphs look completely different from adult dragonflies and hunt in different ways. Not only are adult dragonflies fierce predators but so are the aquatic dragonfly larvae, called nymphs or naiads. ![]() Some gleaners flush insects from the vegetation and capture them in flight.ĭragonflies position their legs during flight so the spines form a basket to catch prey Once spotted, the dragonfly darts at the stationary prey and plucks it from the vegetation. Gleaners alternate slow flight through vegetation with perching to search for insects. Some hummingbirds also use this method to forage for insects. Salliers perch to watch for flying prey and then fly up to capture the prey. Hawkers fly around, either in a small space or large, and capture flying insects much like swallows foraging. Not only can they fly forwards, dragonflies can fly backwards, up, down, turn on a dime and hover.Īdult dragonflies utilize these flight capabilities to forage for prey and the methods of hunting can be divided into three types: hawkers, salliers and gleaners. Their four wings move independently of each other and can be rotated independently like airplane propellers are feathered. ![]() Dragonflies can track their flying prey and intercept it precisely.ĭragonflies are thought to have the best vision in the insect world with almost a 360 degree view.ĭragonflies crush their prey with serrated teethĮxcellent vision coupled with incredible flight capabilities helps them hunt successfully. Unlike some predators that hunt their prey by actively chasing them, dragonflies prefer to ambush the prey from behind. However, most insects don’t even know what is coming when a dragonfly snatches them. Even smaller dragonflies and damselflies have to be wary of the aptly named dragonfly. Tiny flies, leafhoppers, beetles, mosquitos, moths, bees and butterflies don’t stand a chance against dragonflies. Some dragonflies capture and eat their prey so quickly the act can only be seen on high-speed cameras. Dragonflies capture 90 to 95 percent of the prey they hunt and it can be devoured within seconds with the dragonfly’s serrated teeth. The great white shark only captures prey 50 percent of the time.įor the small size of the dragonfly, it can be brutal. Dragonflies hold their wings straight out when at restĪfrican lions are ferocious but their hunts are only successful 25 percent of the time.
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