If you’re exploring the Wetlands Nature Reserve at Millennium Country Park on a warm, sunny day this summer, you’re likely to encounter some of the jewels of the insect world: dragonflies and damselflies. These vivid insects come in an array of colours from brilliant reds to metallic blues and iridescent greens. It’s worth bringing along a pair of binoculars if you’d like to look at them closely as they’re prone to darting off if they sense nearby movement, so it is often better to view them from afar.
Dazzling dragons and damsels
a guide to these wetland wonders
So how do you tell the difference between the two? As a general rule, dragonflies are broader and stockier than their smaller, more delicate cousins. A dragonfly in flight brings to mind a harrier jumpjet – it is agile, strong and purposeful. Dragonflies have four independently mobile wings which give them a supreme manoeuvrability, enabling them to hover, as well as move swiftly upwards, downwards, forwards and backwards just like the famous aircraft. Damselflies, on the other hand, have a much more gentle, fluttery flight, more akin to a butterfly than a fighter plane. While resting, damsels fold their wings neatly next to their bodies, while dragons’ wings are outstretched. The dragonfly is an aggressive airborne predator. Using its acute eyesight and efficient aerial skills, it hunts a variety of insects, capturing them mid-air. And despite their delicate appearance, damselflies are also voracious predators, snatching other insects by creating a ‘basket’ shape with their legs to scoop up their prey while in flight. These hunting techniques have been perfected over millions of years – their ancestral line dates back to around 300 million years ago - before dinosaurs roamed the earth! Back then, they were much bigger than they are today, with a wingspan up to 30cm.
