DeanS
Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina
This from “Trivia of the Day.” Since many Hoggers post DFs, Methinks some will find this interesting. I surely did.
Dragonflies can fly at speeds of up to 60 mph, making them the fastest insect on the planet. They have long, thin, colorful bodies, six legs, large eyes, and two pairs of transparent wings that allow them to propel themselves up, down, sideways, forward, and backward without changing its orientation. They are proficient fliers, and tend to only catch prey and eat while flying. Dragonflies do not bite and they do not sting. The largest dragonfly fossil had a wingspan of nearly three feet, making it the largest flying insect in known history.
Can you imagine what a sound one of the prehistoric dragon flies would have made? 😳
DeanS
Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina
flathead27ford wrote:
Can you imagine what a sound one of the prehistoric dragon flies would have made? 😳
No, but glad I wasn’t around to experience it! 😎😎😎
The Dragonfly is also the world's champion hunter.
Its success rate is something like 95%.
It doesn't chase its quarry down.
It can predict where the victim will be inflight and meets it at that point.
The species is 320 million years old...and has developed itself to near perfection.
They must have to plan ahead.
DeanS wrote:
This from “Trivia of the Day.” Since many Hoggers post DFs, Methinks some will find this interesting. I surely did.
Dragonflies can fly at speeds of up to 60 mph, making them the fastest insect on the planet. They have long, thin, colorful bodies, six legs, large eyes, and two pairs of transparent wings that allow them to propel themselves up, down, sideways, forward, and backward without changing its orientation. They are proficient fliers, and tend to only catch prey and eat while flying. Dragonflies do not bite and they do not sting. The largest dragonfly fossil had a wingspan of nearly three feet, making it the largest flying insect in known history.
This from “Trivia of the Day.” Since many Hoggers... (
show quote)
OK, now I know why I can't seem to get a clear shot of one of them!
It often strikes me how sophisticated their onboard computer (brain) is. They calculate wind speed and direction, the trajectory of the prey, and then regulate their wing surfaces for optimum performance. In a fraction of a second. And that brain is tiny.
The more you try to photograph them, the more you will appreciate how astoundingly incredible they are. As with all of Nature. That is a Power of Photography.
DeanS
Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina
johnnyem wrote:
It often strikes me how sophisticated their onboard computer (brain) is. They calculate wind speed and direction, the trajectory of the prey, and then regulate their wing surfaces for optimum performance. In a fraction of a second. And that brain is tiny.
Maybe some imaginative bug scientist should initiate a research project.
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