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Call for questions: DRAGONFLIES (Patreon)

Published:
2024-09-19 21:11:24
Imported:
2026-06

Content

I'm often pleasantly startled by dragonflies just because they're so big and beautiful. They're awesome, we point them out to others when we see them. It's a shame I don't know more about them.

In a few days I'm interviewing an entomologist who's also the curator of insects at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Let me know what questions I should ask her about dragonflies!

Deadline: Sunday, September 22 at noon PST

 

Comments

Zed Shirogane

Are they really the most successful predator on the planet with an over 90% catch rate? How?!

Chris Curious

How much to they help with nuisance species like mosquitos?

Adam Weaver

What makes them such efficient predators?

Sugarpuffdaddykins

Why don’t they breathe tiny fire? Or do they just not want me to know?

Emmett

Do they always occur around water or is that just a coincidence?

Lynette Dávila

Oh my gods I'm so excited! I can't think of a question right now cause I'm so excited!

Alex Nelson

Dragonflies vs damsel flies? How are different?

Sophie

am i right to be afraid of them? i feel like they bite but i think i am wrong

Alexandria Shockney

How do some dragonflies complete such long migrations — how do they orientate themselves and fuel up enough for the journey? I get birds — but an insect? Truly fascinating.

Jennifer Froh

When theyre attatched by the butt but still flying are they having intercourse? Why not land to do that??

Rachael Lemont

Omg I love dragonflies so much, I even have a tattoo!! Can they recognize people?! How big were the earliest ones?!

Jasmine Tsai

FTQA 💖 Dragonfly eyes!!! Tell me more! Are their eyes the main reason why they’re such successful predators?

Lynette Dávila

When they transform from nymphs to adults do they grow from there? I saw one that looked small so I was wondering if it was just a small species or still growing.

Charlotte Parkinson

COLOURS! Why do they come in such shiny different colours? As a kid, I used to think they were all the same.

Julia Casey

Can you tell us anything about ancient dragonflies? I’ve read they were ginormous!

Kelli Brown

Are there different species of dragonflies? Does environment impact their size, color, or unique markings?

Hendrick T. Goller

So when I was a little kid, I was convinced that Dragonflies were just ant helicopters…. Ants would fly them looking for food sources… Am I the only one who thought this? But on a more serious note, do Dragonflies have any cool, symbiotic relationships with other insects or creatures?

Heather Leonard

Is it true that there were giant dragonflies in the past? If so, how big were they? I heard they eat mosquitos. What else do they eat? What’s the difference between a dragonfly and a damselfly? Do they live everywhere? One bit me while I was trying to relocate it and I was surprised with how strong its mouth was. Why do they need such strong chompers?

Ninja Squirrel

FTQA What's the difference between dragonflies and damselflies?

Keri Overall

Are dragonflies and damselflies related? What's the easiest way to quickly distinguish which one a person is looking at?

Aki

Do dragonflies have cultural significance in different cultures?

Han the Bee

Can they bite you? Growing up swimming at lakes, I heard all the time that they could bite you- but I don't recall ever being bit. Is this a load of malarky?

Michael Swords

Ive heard that dragonflies eat mosquitoes, and there's plenty around my home. So, how can I encourage the skeeters to bring all the dragonflies to the yard? Also what are those big beautiful eyes seeing that we can't?

Hope J 🏳️‍🌈

Is it just me or are they an insect that has been here since the dinosaurs? If so, how have they survived for so long and did they used to be bigger? Is it true that if you see a lot of dragonflies at a pond or near a body of water that means there are less likely to be mosquitos biting you since the dragonflies eat them? Is there a way to distinguish a male and female dragonfly? Where the most unusual place a dragonfly has been found? Are their wings really that colorful or is it just a trick of the eye when light reflects/refracts off of them?

Sarah Philo

FTQA, why do they fly like that? so chaotic and unpredictable! it seems like they turn so fast I blink and they're gone

Erica Flory

What is the collective name for a group of dragonflies and is that the same for when they are babies?

DJ and Melissa

How are dragonflies so much better than any other aerial predators? What makes them so successful?

Kate Radford

Ooo! Biochemist here. Two questions: how many distinct dragonfly genomes have been sequenced? And how many different opsin genes do they have?

Morgan Louvier

FTQA! I FREAKING LOVE DRAGONFLIES I’ve heard ancient dragonflies used to have wingspans of almost 2 feet, were they actually ever that big? If so, why aren’t they that big anymore?

Kieran C.

Are they really one of the/the most successful predators on the planet? If so, how?? What’s their secret??

Nicole Robb

FTQA: Would dragonflies be considered an apex predator of the insect world? I feel like dragonflies would be right up there with praying mantises and certain wasps!

the ren you know

I just came here to say that Dragonfly Naiads plague my nightmares and when I was a kid I saw one eating a pollywog so no offense but what the fuck?? #uglybaby

Nicole Robb

FTQA: How can I attract more dragonflies to my yard?

Isa Brillard

YAY one of my fav bugs! I want to know about their wings since they’re so unique— did they adapt in that way to hunt certain prey? Do they always eat midair? I used to “catch” dragonflies on my fingie tips as a child if I moved slowly— is there something that makes them calm enough to coax them to step onto your finger?

mish the fish

when i was like 10 ay summer camp, this dragonfly made it's way over to us and one of the kids flipped out. she was so scared which only made the dragonfly more attracted to her. why? why are people afraid of them?

Guido

Does the ornithopter in the Dune movies accurately represent how dragonflies moves?

Emily Staw-fur

I always get so excited whenever I see a dragonfly, but what was with that video of the swarm on the beach? 😅

KeyLime Pi

First time question asker here! What is up with how dragonflies mate? I know they do it in flight, which is impressive, but why are their hind-quarters up by each other's heads? My 7 year old thinks this is a special type of "double dragon fly" :-D

Handrea

What is with the flying around butt to butt thing?! Are they mating while flying? Is one pulling the other along?? How do they coordinate flying like this?

Emily Staw-fur

When I was little, I was told it's good luck if one lands on you. This is definitely true, right?

Isabelle Leclerc

I want to know about the aerodynamics of their flight, like the theory of flight, with their wing design. Also, why are they so freaking amazing? I love these little (and sometimes not so little) creatures.

Chuck Meriam

First ask! Are there any dragonflies that bite or sting, or was that a tall tale told to me when I was a kid? Thanks!

Paige McLachlan

was there ever giant dragonflies in prehistoric times?? Like how there was giant ground sloths and stuff

Elta Sparks

Why are they so shiny? Does it have to do with blending into the water reflection?

Marxe Orbach

I hate trying to untangle them from nets. Why do their heads fall off so easily? Any tips for getting them out if they're tangled up?

Corinne Johnson

First time questioner... I always notice them driving and a lot of them in a day. Are there certain areas they are more attracted to than others?

Hands.to.yourself

AHH IM SO EXCITED!! Is it true they can only fly and can't walk? I've heard they have the highest accuracy rare of any aerial predator, is this true? What's the difference between dragonflies and damselflies?

Striving to thrive

As a kid I always heard that they DIDN'T bite people; but then someone said they were bit and it was excruciating... I need to know the truth lol, so I can hopefully let them land on me again 🙂 they are the mascot for my autoimmune disease (APS) so I feel a special connection to them

Yasmine Alu

what do dragonflies eat? do they even have mouths? do you think they will get any bigger as they evolve?

Sydonie S.

I love the diverse colors of dragonflies. What are dragonfly eyes like and what purpose do their colors have?

Eric Gidseg

Please tell me that they have whatever it takes to survive the warming of the planet! They are so precious.

Family MacDs

We have heard that Dragonflies never miss the insects they are chasing, is that true? Also, do they live more than one year? We see lots of them mating at our lake, how do the eggs survive the winter?

Chelsea Wilck

OH YEAH I am so stoked. In my family dragonflies have been a motif on all jewlery/tattoos/home decor ever since my grandpa passed away about 20 years ago we have been seeing "him" as a dragonfly come visit us over the years and STILL to this day whenever I get in my car to drive somewhere I would say 70% of the time a dragonfly hovers over my car as I pull out of the driveway of my apt (despite me living in a busy city) and I know it is common for a lot of folks to see the spirit of loved ones in a dragonfly...anyway my question is there like folklore or something that has tied dragonflies to the spirit of loved ones who have passed? Why do so many people believe dragonflies are protectors or messengers from the beyond?

Leah Anderson

Macroinvertebrate larvae are indicators of how healthy a body of water is. Where do dragonflies rate on the scale of healthy to poor? How well do they tolerate pollution? And do invasives like round gobies pose a threat to their eggs and larvae?

Penny Lee

We're in New Hampshire and have a pond lots of dragonflies. One time I saw something that looked like a teeny, silver alien spacecraft on one of the cattails. I looked it up and the Internet said it was a dragonfly pupa maybe? 1-it seriously looked like metal. And 2-why haven't I seen any since then?

Amandaloveskurt

Any fans of Coheed and Cambria here? I’m excited about Dragonflies on so many levels!

Mallory Skinner

When one of them is on top of the other, is it…dragonfly sexy times? Or are they just communicating or something?

Sam and Katie

We've heard that they have a 90% kill rate when hunting, is that true? What makes them so good at hunting?

Wandering Wyatt

They frequently fly around my backyard - which I love. Eat all the skeeters my friends!!! They seem to have a very regular (linear or grid) pattern to their flying sometimes. Is that my imagination?

Amandaloveskurt

I’ve often heard it said that dragonflies are signs from loved ones who have passed on, where did this symbolism come from? And what other things do dragonflies symbolize throughout the world?

GreenVHSTape

Why were dragonflies like 6ft wide in pre-historic times?

Geo

Why does it seem like the dragonfly population has decreased? Has it actually decreased? Is there anything that does affect their population?

Dave Brewer

When I was in co, my friends and I called them fuckbugs.

Dave Brewer

How can I distinguish between dragonflies and damselflies?

Yuri

How can we help them? Does spraying for mosquitoes kill them? What about just general insecticides in our yards? Are there any dragonflies that like particular flowers, or is it just attracting more insects to the yard so that they have things to eat? If you put a little pole up in the garden, does that really draw them to your yard to come perch on it? Things like the endocrine disruptors in artificial fragrances, does that mess with dragonflies hormones too? What about the whole pfas thing? I can't wait for this episode! Your beauty without the b fan girl

Hannah Thorpe

Can you explain how the little white filaments that appear on their exoskeleton when they hatch help them breathe?

Leanna Shuster

Oooh oooh excited for this one! I'm going to try to come up with some more substantive questions, but for now....why are they just so majestic?! And why do they always zoom by too quickly for me to take a photo?

Sam

Did they inspire the invention of the helicopter?

Nicky G

I heard that dragonflies were once HUGE - how and why?! Is their total hunt/successful hunt ratio really high? Why?

Leiza Hicks

What is the difference between dragonflies and damselflies

Coloradokeith

I see their underwater husks on cattails around my pond, and of course the adults in the air but I’ve yet to see one in the water. Are they muck dwellers?

Abe Stebbing

Dragonflies vs damselflies vs darners? What’s the dif? Furthermore, do those lil dragonfly bobbles that you clip to your hat really keep bugs away? Im a farmer and work outside year round. Anything I can do to cut down on mosquito/deer fly/horsefly/etc bites would make me a very happy man.

BENJAMIN

Man I wish I could think of a good question! Why are they the coolest?!

Priyal

My 5yr old (Rowan) would like to know everything about meganeura and how they are related to modern dragonflies. (Vague I know, but he really wanted to ask a question! It's our first question too)

Sarah Chaney

Swarming and/or migration? I had the pleasure to experience huge groups of dragonflies more than once around the same place, in multiple years, but I'm not sure what they were doing and hadn't thought about it for years until this call for questions! Can't wait for this episode!

EmiTheStrangest

Dragonflies are fairies. Prove me wrong, Alie.

Rachel Prestayko

How do dragonflies get their spectacular colours on their bodies and/or wings?

Edith-Marie Roper

They seem magic. Are they magic? 😁 But serious question, where do they live and why don't I see them in eastern Colorado/Western Kansas?

Kent Durvin

Is there a good guidebook to ID them? Do they use the sun for a reference when flying?

Mini Minnie

Ornithopters in Dune … could that be a real thing?

Ellen Durnal

What's in that long tail thing?

Ellen Durnal

Why do they have 2 sets of wings??

Mini Minnie

Tiffany dragonfly stained glass lamp … LOVE them! Did he really have anything to do with dragonflies, or is it just an acknowledgment that they are beautiful and worth re-creating in art?

rowantree

What’s the evolutionary benefit of such vibrant colors? How has that helped them?

Mini Minnie

What is the top speed a dragonfly can reach? How long can they sustain it? Can they fly backwards?

Ellen Durnal

I've heard their eyes are complicated...how do they perceive the world?

Lisa Gorman

Why do they land on you more than any other bugs? I love this about them but it is startling.

Sage Scarberry

why do they always look like they’re smiling? (i love them so much)

Ellen Durnal

Do they hang out together or solo?

Patricia Evans

I've heard them referred to as "prehistoric" and they seem to show up in David Attenborough documentaries about dinosaurs. Are they really that unchanged since prehistory? How far back do they go?

Becky Stenberg

How do their eggs survive being just dropped on the surface of the water?

Jacintha Jaa

Why are they attracted to cars?

Kurt Swanson

Are there any folk tales or myths involving dragonflies?

Paula M

Can we train them to follow us and eat all the mosquitos? #personalmosquitocatcher ;)

Hannah Johnson

I sometimes come across dragonfly exoskeletons (molts? husks?) that seem stuck to surfaces, sometimes even upside down. Do they "stick" themselves to surfaces before they molt? If so, how do they do it?

Milo Cuesta

Best Dragonfly scene in a movie: Caveman. Dennis Quaid & Ringo Starr. Were they ever really that big, i.e. too big to be flicked?

Madsey H

FTQA: What's the biggest prey a Dragonfly can catch or eat? Are they social creatures? (I been waiting for this one!)

Annmarie Everhart

Do you think dragonflies get sad when people scream when they land on us? 😄

Danielle Sucher

My 5yo asks: “Why do dragonflies fly instead of gallop like a unicorn?”

Dr. Lina Carpenter

Please talk about the evolution of the dragonfly! I want to hear about the insanely big bugs of the Carboniferous period from an expert. :)

SuchaHotMetz

Why are they called "dragon" flies?

Hailee Kirby

Why do their eyes look like that? Do they see very well? They look so big and shiny.

Katrina Renee

why do they always end up flying all over in fields of freshly mowed grass (i’m in va, in case that’s maybe a regionally thing)?

Scott Hanley

Jimi Hendrix has a nice song about them

Rachel Fallon

My kids would like to know “Have they gotten smaller or bigger over time?” And also “what is the most rare color for a dragonfly?”

Mimz

Why did they evolve to have 4 wings rather than two like many other bugs my 12 yo ologite Elliot asks?

Jaqi McCarthy

Why do we connect them with magic and specifically the afterlife? So many people have loved ones that visit them in the shape of a dragonfly

Sophia A

Why are they always riding around on each others backs? Are they mating or just hanging out?

cheesemonger

FTQA Why do they appear to keep banging while flying? Seems fun!

Robert Sullivan

How do dragonflies manage to catch their prey while we have such a hard time swatting the same mosquito? Also what is the personal favorite name for dragonfly in another language? Our favorite is Libélula.

Molly Louise

How many species of dragonfly are there and how big is the biggest one?

Jenna Congdon

My husband, Dan, would like to know how they catch mosquitoes while they're flying. What makes them such good hunters? Does having four wings make them better fliers?

Organic Free-Range Lily

I know dragonflies perceive a much richer colour spectrum than us humans, and I know we can't even imagine what those colours look like... But is there some mental trick or a fancy metaphor that would help us almost-imagine what those colours would look like? 🙃 (Or is that literally impossible for our monkey brains?)

Jessie Meeks

If I see two dragonflies of different colors, are they different species? How does nature create the iridescence that some have? How can I live in the south and have a backyard full of mosquitoes but no dragonflies but when I lived in Colorado I had a backyard full of dragonflies when there were no mosquitoes?

Carlo Sgro

What mythology is there associated with dragonflies in cultures around the world?

Jackie G

What is the evolutionary benefit of iridescence?

Thomas Payne

The Aztecs harvested dragon fly eggs daily from reeds inserted near marshes. What do they taste like? Will they be a new superfood?

Thomas Payne

Are dragon flies a model for future human flight?

Cinnamon

What is the dragonfly life cycle? Where do dragonflies lay their eggs and how do the eggs survive winter?

Addie Cappello she her

YESSSSSSS!!!! The Museum of Natural History is my childhood ☺️(and let’s be honest my adulthood as well 🧡) shoutout to the best Museum ever. Thank you for all your hard work curating a gem of a place, in my heart. Ok: can the ologist please discuss differences and similarities between dragonflies and damselflies? Truth or Flim Flam: I’ve always been told and tell others that dragonfly presence at a body of water indicates a healthy ecosystem. Can this be confirmed? Want to make sure I’m educating responsibly. What is the benefit of aquatic beginning life stages? Is there an evolutionary niche being filled? In comparison to let’s say, a butterfly life cycle where it’s all terrestrial. Any thoughts or expansion on why they start as water goblins and then turn into iridescent fairies? (She/her pronouns 🤓)

CurtisDawg

Where on the food chain are they? What do they eat and who eats them?

Ettegoom

How does their flying work? Are they the only animals that can just HOVER?

CurtisDawg

How about threats to their environments? Are WE their biggest threat by fucking up the planet? What effects are we having on their survival within the world wide ecosystem?

Elizabeth Mena

My daughter, who has a giant dragonfly tattoo across her back, wants to know more about the moorland hawker dragonflies, who fake their own death to avoid mating.

Steffany Halfrey

Where do dragonflies go when they aren’t flying? Do they make nests or do they just land on things when they need to rest or mate?

Misfit

I love dragonflies! How can I encourage more of them to visit/live in my yard?

Adam T. Berns

How closely related are dragonflies and damselflies, and what are the biggest differences between them (aside from overall size and "skinniness")? Is color the primary indicator of different species (for both dragons and damsels) or is it more sexual dimorphism? How can I attract more of them to my yard whether I live near a wetland/pond or not?

Olivier Calas

How many times a minute do they beat their wings? Are they anywhere near hummingbirds in terms of performance?

Nicole S

Do they migrate? Why are they so shiny?

Chrysalis Ashton

What’s the biggest dragonfly we know of? Were the dinosaurs hanging out with dragon-sized dragonflies?

Turner Pierce

First time question asker: Why so big and so small? Does the size vary by location, species or resources available? Do they really mate while flying sideways? How does that work and how do they not fall out of the air? Is there sexual dimorphism? Are they all colorful and iridescent? Doesn’t that coloring making them more appealing to predators? How do they avoid being eaten?

Relani Prudhomme

First time questioner… I just witnessed a dragonfly feeding frenzy (in Algonquin Park, Ontario, CA) and was mesmerized by their precision flying capabilities. I want to know everything about it. It seemed like the frenzy was spurred by the hatching of flying ants who were taking off into the sky, but few of them seemed to make it past the cloud of dragonflies. How common is this? Who or what else would they eat in this fashion? What is it called? Is it geographically specific? Can it be predicted? It was so entertaining, I could have watched all night! How do dragonflies know to come to the place where there is the most food? Do they routinely patrol an area and happen upon the insects? Is it mainly with their big eyes that they detect their prey? Or do they use other senses? Do they ever crash into each other?

Rachel M

Dragonflies are the best. As a kid, I used to point out clouds of mosquitoes and yell “Over there! Get ‘em dragonfly!” How many mosquitoes can they eat in a night? What is the biggest and smallest dragonfly?

Rowan Doyle

First time question asker - I've heard dragonflies are the best/most efficient hunters in the animal kingdorm. Is that true? What's the ratio? Thank you! (they/them pronouns if this gets read)

Annabelle

Are they social? Yesterday I walked to the lake shore and there was a huge crowd of dragonflies darting around, were they hanging out together on purpose?? What were they doing?

Mamabee & DadAussie

Pop culture reference question (cos all the other cool, smart techinical questions already seem to have been asked!): Do you have a favourite dragonfly representation/shout out/character from popular culture? I loved Evinrude from 1977 animated film The Rescuers, such pluck for a little dragonfly! - Mamabee (she/her)

Ashely Donohue

Dragonfly nymphs!! The different mouthparts!! Straight out of a horror movie but so awesome!! Are they for different types of prey?

jangonator

Is there any existing or future aerial technology based on dragonfly anatomy? Is there something uniquely great about the way they fly?

Ron

Have mechanical devices been designed based on dragonfly anatomy?

zackever8

You know how they fly around together when they mate? How do they coordinate what direction they’re going? They’re both steering right?

Mamabee & DadAussie

Lifespan questions: How long do adult dragonflies live? I rescued one stuck inside the other week and it didn't look too great. Didn't fly off when I put it outside and I suspect it was not going to live much longer. I remember reading that they live for quite a while in the larval mudeye stage, but how long do adults live? Just long enough to mate? Are all species pretty similar in terms of life span or are there some species that live significantly longer? - Mamabee (she/her)

Storm

when they are flying around while joined, is that them mating?! seems like a hard way to do it while flying around together

Storm

it’s spring in Australia and a lot have come out in the last couple weeks! coincidence or no?

Storm

what do they eat!?

LeenaBeans

First time question asker - how are they able to zoom round and change direction/stop on a dime? How so fast

Theladyisageek

Is it possible to breed dragonflies and have them imprint on me so that they can become my personal mosquito hunting posse? As someone who mosquitos seem to find especially delicious, this would be a glorious symbiotic relationship.

Genevieve Bertrand

I’ve heard they are from a very old branch of insect. Oldest insects. But they eat…bugs. Who came before the first insect then? Who were they eating at first?

Bonnie M Rutherford

I have many yarrow plants particularly close to my ponds. Sometimes I see lots of dragonflies on them. Is that a particular flower they like or are they just on it because it's close to the pond?

Rineil Mandre

Why so rude with the face clamp of love? Taking pics of dragonflies at a pond, I was disturbed by the images of the male leading the female around by the head.

Donna MateskideSanchez

We hear a lot what homeowners can do to create beneficial habitat for birds and butterflies, but what can we do to help dragonflies and their ? cousins damselflies?

Eating dog hair for a living

How do they have so many beautiful colors? Where do they go in the winter? What do they like to eat? How do they mate? What are their offspring called and how long does it take for them to mature? Do they lay eggs? How many can they lay at one time? One time when I was picking up my dog from doggie daycare, there were at least 10 dragonflies flying around in one spot close to the ground, what were they doing? If they weren't supposed to be doing that maybe it was my Dad sending a message. Otherwise, why is it you most of the time only see one?

CuttleCuddle

SO excited for this conversation! FTQA: How does their flight work? Wing structure, joint attachments, muscles, technique? Please tell everything about their vision with those spectacular eyes! Besides praying mantises, are they the only insects that can rotate their heads/necks? How does that help when hunting? Do they catch prey by mouth or grab with feet?

Claire Richie

*Kerri Colby voice* A dragonfly?! RuPaul’s Drag Race fans need to know: are dragonflies edible???

Beth Fetterley Heller

Love odonates! I know of a few threatened and endangered dragonflies, and am curios about the order as a whole. What are the population trends?

Ash

What's the weirdest bit of folklore about dragonflies?

Chris Moore

No question: just want to drop that Dr. Ware is the best 💚

Chelsea Oden

How do we attract dragonflies closer to where we live so we can be surrounded by these awesome insects and fewer mosquitos?! (Longtime listener, first time question asker)

Mickie Farris

Two questions!! First, does it actually work to have a fake dragonfly bobbing around on a headband to deter mosquitoes? Like the model dragonflies on a boingy pipe cleaner? And second, We sometimes find dragonflies entangled in our trampoline net. What is the best way to free them without damaging their wings or getting bitten?

Sonjabird

Biggest dragonfly ever?

J Shay

Why are they shaped the way they are and what's the purpose of their iridescent colors?

Mel Bryan

Also interested in info about huge ancient dragonflies!

Devon Naples

When I see two dragonflies fluttering about, attached to each other… are they doing what I think they’re doing? Are the making whoopie?

Rachel

I used to be so scared of dragonflies because they felt so unpredictable! They seem like they fly very darty.. is this because of their wing shape?

Iris Hutchings

Where did the story that dragonflies were your lost loved ones coming back to say hi originate? Have you ever felt something like that?

Dianna Smith

My first question is do they know how awesome they are but my second is about how drawn we seem to be to them throughout history. There’s almost a mystical/mythical connection to them. I have a bevy of them who come to rest each evening on a dead Rose of Sharon tree I’ve left in the garden specifically because they seem to like it so much.

Brain 🧠 Shenanigans

It never occurred to me until this very moment, but what do dragonflies even eat?! Also, I’ve had a ton of dragonflies in my yard this year hanging around in my flowers. Do they partake in any sort of pollination? Are they just hanging out vibing with the colors? Are they looking for food?

Björn Fredberg

Why four wings? It seems to be rare among insects. Is it an efficient design? If so, why isn't it more common?

Björn Fredberg

In the Dune movies they use Ornithopters for transportation, essentially helicopter-sized dragonfly-shaped vehicles. Could that work in reality? How much do the dragonfly wings flex when flying? Is there anything else about the design that only works at small scale and not semibig scale?

Björn Fredberg

Where do dragonflies nest? Do they burrow/cocoon/build a cottage with white picket fence? Wouldn't that be cute though? Pixar, call me

Björn Fredberg

How solitary are they? You only see them one at a time, unless they are doing the nasties

Björn Fredberg

How does dragonfly copulation work? I think have seen them connect at the end of their long hind bodies?

Björn Fredberg

Once in Japan I saw one sitting still on the ground. I snuck up on it carefully with my camera, scared it a bit, but it took a lap and flew back to the same spot. Did this several times. It was clearly looking at me. Got so close I could pet its wing. A: How interested in other animals are they, except for eating? B: How ashamed should I be for touching it? Did I fuck up some delicate surface?

Ari Fox

What makes them shiny and iridescent? What is the difference between dragonflies and damselflies? If we could see all spectrums of light, what would they look like? How did they get their name?

Sadie Vipond

I love saving them from drowning and then letting them dry out while sitting on my hand until they are ready to fly away. Do they think of me as a friend??

Sadie Vipond

Any fantastical origin story behind the name dragonfly?

Marina D

And what about their life cycle.. the stage where they live underwater. Those nymphs are so darn creepy

Charlotte Fjelkegård

Same observation from our yard. They look like they patrol following a grid and also seem to have a favorite resting place. Usually a stick or a straw in the sun. (Of course there's always THE BEST stick that they scuffle over.)

Kellie Due

What's the best way to preserve dragonflies without loosing all their colors?

Leila Laco

All the dragonflies I've seen recently have been in flight, so I haven't been able to see enough features to ID them, let alone take a photo - is there a way to get them to stop for a moment so this nerd can have a good look at them? I have an ID guide for my area but it's hard to get the species level details when they're flying around so quickly!

Flora

How fast can they fly? How do they navigate 3D? What is their brain situation like (ratio to body or something)?

Flora

I have had many occasions where dragonflies have landed on me, even used my hand as a perch for hunting and returning with their prey. Why would they prefer a human to a flower or branch? Is this because of warmth?

Flora

What is their hunting behavior like? Are there differences between species of dragonflies in food and foraging?

Flora

Sorry I have soooo many questions: I love dragon flies! How did they evolve? What is the largest dragonfly to have ever lived?

Kleb

Helicopters!!!!! - that's what always came to my mind immediately when seeing one. Is it true they've inspired the design? Or is it flim-flam to make kids (and me) happy?

Rosario Neyra

Top tips for attracting them to your garden?

Susan Singley

How old are they, really? Did giant ones really fly around? If so, where are the ginormous ones today?

Cooper Michael

I know dragonflies and damselflies have some differences, but are they completely different species to study or is there cross over?

Honey Bee Grey

I often see what I think is the same one around my garden often, it has earned the name sir flyington III. Am I actually seeing the same one or is it just imposters hanging out?

Dave Cannon

What's the little claw thing in the end of the tail? Why do think their eye's lenses evolved like that? Is there a single pupil or multiple? They have to have brains rights?

Clover

I often see them in the summer flying around connected doing what I assume is mating, is that what this is and why exactly do they do it this way?

Felipe Jimenez

Is it true that their flying skills are epic? I mean, flying backwards, loops, etc. are they the best pilots of the insect world?

Erin Burbidge

I think I heard somewhere that prehistoric dragonflies were a lot larger and it was in part because oxygen levels were higher. Fact or flim flam?

Darren Bush

I'm an odonatist, so I can't wait to hear this episode. And y'all are asking really good questions! :-)

winn

what’s the benefit of having two separate wings on each side rather than one big wing?

winn

why do they buzz!!!!!! what are they saying?

PopsicleEmperor

What makes them so shiny or irredescent?

Ashley

Do any dragonflies sit with wings folded back (like damselflies) or is this a reliable way to tell them apart? What are the smallest and largest species of dragonflies? How and why does the globe skimmer migrate so far?? Is the time spent as aquatic nymphs truly between 6 months and 6 years for various species? Can you explain the emergence of the adults, specifically what happens with the breathing tubes? Have you heard of the Dragonfly Mercury Project? https://geonarrative.usgs.gov/dmp/

Paige

What exactly are they? Evolutionarily, how did they come about and what advantages do they have by looking the way they do?

Flozzatron

How can I encourage more dragonflys in my neighbourhood and garden? What makes them iridescent?

Gabrielle Jolin

Every summer in Maine (usually June) I see SWARMS of dragonflies in the evenings on my horse farm. Why are there so many and why only during this time of year??

JoJoKodama

(FTQA) I’ve seen male and female dragonflies linked together in a very awkward manner. How the heck are they coordinating flying while the female pokes eggs into the water? Is the male just along for the ride while the female does all the steering, or is he actually a helpful copilot? Wouldn’t it be easier for the female to ditch the asshat before attempting this maneuver? Do they ever crash and drown?

Danae Owens

I live in Florida and every year at a certain time there are soooo many dragonflies. I was told that they release dragonflies to help with the mosquito population. If this is true, where do they go after the couple weeks? Do they die off or migrate elsewhere?

ValBeListening

do you they have preferred places to perch? how do they decide the best resting place?

Eliana Weiss

First time question asker here? How did they get to be called dragonflies and damselflies? Did the dragonflies keep the damselflies captive in a castle? Also what is the difference between dragon and damsel flies?

Jessie Crawford

FTQA! I would love to know more about the potential inspiration from dragonfly wings toward designing helicopters or planes in the future. Also, what's the deal with the way they mate? I've seen what I assume is the male with the end of his tale inserted into the back of the females head. What's going on there??

Jeff Berg

I recently read that dragonflies migrate. Like to S. America. That seems amazing - is that right? Where do they go? Is there anyplace we can see migration tracking for them like BirdCast does for birds?

Anthony Richards

If you were to be bit by a radioactive dragonfly what super power would you want?

Lyssa Mercier

Are their any big behavioural differences between dragonflies and damselfies, in addition to their physical ones? Where did they split off in evolution? Is there any folklore behind their names? Very excited for this!

Erin Everton

Dragonfly larvae are so cool looking. Why are they so different from other aquatic insect larvae?

Colby Evans

Talk about those awesome eyes... similar to spiders/mantids?

Colby Evans

Didn't know they could be scarecrows! Please validate or bust...

Colby Evans

Would bats be major predators?

Colby Evans

you're showing your age, my friend... and yes, I know that scene

Rachel Guthrie

Sometimes I see two of them attached while flying around! Is that part of their mating behavior or is it something else?

Lexi Cable

I am so so soooooo thrilled for this!!!! Dragonflies are my favorite insects! When did dragonflies come into existence? How successful of a hunter are they?

Tanner

How are dragonflies SUCH successful hunters? Stats show they can catch up to 97% of their prey (higher than lions) – how?! 🤯

Mouse Paxton

Dragonflies!!!! What is the fastest a dragonfly has been recorded flying? Why are they so brightly coloured? What was up with that giant prehistoric dragonfly? Does it bother you when people get dragonflies and damselflies mixed up?

Caro Young

What is the biggest dragonfly now and how big was the biggest one that ever excised? From memory they have been around for hundreds of millions of years and used to be huge?

Caro Young

What is their life cycle? (My son would like to know for his school project)

Caro Young

I watched a dragonfly being caught by a spider the other day which was the saddest thing. Also it was a tiny spider and a huge dragonfly. Who else predates on them?

Caro Young

I’ve read that dragonflies migrate, is that true? Do they do this everywhere?

Laureen Philipp

Have you ever seen the jaw on a dragonfly nymph? Woah! What happens to that jaw as they become adults?

Alyssa Hoff

FTQA: how high can/do they fly? Are their colors for a specific reason? Mating? Predator scary away? Do they do butt stuff? I see them stuck together by their butts. Do they have penises? (Very elementary I know.)

Christine, Banana Split Lady

I had a horse as a preteen and I was the worst about cleaning up poop in the yard. The dragonflies LOVED the poop! You could walk by and they would swarm up in huge clouds as you disturbed them. So what's so tasty about the poop? Was it predation on larvae, minerals, ect?

Lindsey Bartholomew

How do they behave at the end of life? I spotted a dragonfly smack dab in the middle of a walking/biking path. I crouched down and urged lil guy to crawl on my finger, and he had no intention of flying away. After some obligatory photos, I transferred lil guy to a leaf off the path. When I came back much later, he was still there. So. Was lil guy likely exhausted or dying?

floraandthefaun

i would also love to know if that fake dragonfly hack works! i've done too many impromptu sprints through fields and forests when bugs started attacking en masse hahahah. so i'm always happy seeing dragonflies around when hiking because it means they gobble up the mosquitos etc.

Ted

How do I attract more dragonflies to my yard? Do they only eat mosquitoes?

Ferf Brownoff

I feel like the nymph form with their xenomorph-like mouthparts are kinda like the "perfect organism". Are there any records of dragonflies that remain underwater and don't undergo metamorphosis to transition to the typical adult stage, like an invertebrate axolotl?? (Note: the "perfect organism" mention was an Alien (1979) reference and not a gross eugenics comment :/ ... )

Shayla Faye Watson

Do they have good colour vision? Can they see each others colorings?

Brain 🧠 Shenanigans

What is the mechanism that makes them iridescent? Like a special type of cell/protein/etc. Is it the same for their bodies and wings? Or are two different things happening?

Jane Nelson

Is there a reason for the bi-plane design? Does the second pair of wings make them more aerodynamic, or allow them to hover, or make them faster?

floraandthefaun

do all dragonflies bite? what prompts them to bite humans? one of the best nature moments of my life was swimming in a river in the forest once and dragonflies landed on my head, hands, shoulders, and just hung out! i honestly felt like a forest fairy/disney princess and the dragonflies seemed just eternally chill! 🧌💚

Tania Magic Fingers

I know they have a hunting success rate of 98%. Do all dragonflies predict their prey flight path or do some chase their prey? What do we know about their intelligence?

Earl of Greymalkin

1) What does their full life cycle look like? Are dragonflies just the last phase and we don't usually see the first one(s)? 2) I love the ones with the black and white patches on the wings that smear out into stripes while their wings are beating. Do the wing pigments have a function for them to identify others of the same species or something? 3) I've seen bright blue ones, bright red, bright yellow... so cool! How many different colors are there? What kinds of pigments are they making? 4) The internet has told me that you can use a fake dragonfly to scare away mosquitos, or to stick a pole in the garden as a good perch to lure in a dragonfly to scare away mosquitos. Is this true? Can I actually do anything to lure in dragonflies to my outdoor area because they're pretty and I have to many mosquitos trying to eat me? 5) What does the species distribution look like around the world? How many different ones are there and are there any invasive dragonflies? 6) Who named them? Because 'dragonfly' is cool as shit and the name helped me recognize that bugs can be awesome, actually. What are they called in other languages? What do their scientific names reference? 7) Why is their butt so long? Does it help counterbalance? Is it actually a butt? 8) I usually seem to see them close to water. Do they need water for some reason or do they just like to eat things that like the water? 9) Any tips for sneaking up on them nicely to admire them? Can I boop? 10) Ologies taught me that butterflies smell good, though I haven't had the chance yet to test it out. What do dragonflies smell like? Do they have noses themselves?

Rich Tomos-Simpson

If we puny humans have 3 opsins in our eyes (RGB). Do we have any idea what the dragonflies that have 'a whopping 30, different visual opsins'* use them for? This seems like overkill, aside from seeing a wider spectrum, what more are they getting. Are they seeing sounds? Can they see the future? Can they see who views their tiktoks at least? *New scientist 2015

Matt Hirschl

Not to body shame a dragon fly, but what's the deal with their skinny, thin kabooses?

Rock Hopper

Do dragonflies migrate at all, even a little, or do the airborne adults die in the late fall? I love seeing them flying about my yard, but what happens to them when winter arrives in the NE? Do dragonflies and damselflies get along or is one of them on the menu for the other?

Amber McIntyre

A few weeks ago at my son’s soccer game, their playing field was littered with dragonflies - like an obscene amount. They didn’t seem to wander too far from the field and just kind of flew around. Were we interrupting some weird mating orgy or do they just hang out in one place and migrate en masse from one location to another?

Carissa Perry

I live in the Midwest, and I feel like I see fewer and fewer dragonflies each year. How are they doing population wise and how can I help them/attract them to my yard so I can be mesmerized by their awesomeness and also have them eat my abundance of mosquitoes?

Elizabeth Alecki

I would love to know more about the dragonhunter, a species of clubtail dragonfly. They just sound so badass, are they actually badass or not so special? What dragonfly is the best dragonfly? Using whatever criteria the entomologist chooses. How big were prehistoric dragonflies and what were they eating?

Sarah Morcom

What is their larval stage? Feel like I've never (knowingly) seen a dragonfly baby

Bevearlea

Horseflies and dragonflies… what’s the scoop on this?

Raja

How is it that dragonflies get all the glory and so few people know about damselflies (and tend to mistake them for dragonflies)? Do dragonflies have better marketing people? What gives? (Raja rhymes with papaya)

Kait

Is there any lore around them that might be linked to some behavior or historic event? Feels like they have symbolic meaning across cultures. They do seem a little magical!! ✨ from a FTQA and a biology student in Miami University’s Project Dragonfly program✨

Lee S

Are there ways females can delay egg laying during times of drought?

Nathan Marion

Are they the only bugs that can fly in virtually every direction and plane? Why are they so unique? Like, why isn’t there other bugs that are like them? Or are there? How big do they get? Who would win in a fight, a dragon fly or praying mantis?

Raja

Ooh! Good question about who would win! I'd put money on the dragonfly!

Bonnie M Rutherford

I recall reading an article once about dragonfly eyes. I recall that they had far more opsins than many other animals and that they could see colors that we can't. Could you elaborate on that.

Cassidy Weber

First time question asker! Why do dragonflies spend so much of their lives underwater? What advantage does that have?

Devyn

Why are dragonflies so god damn beautiful? What makes their wings do that shimery-fairy thing? Whenever I see a dragon fly caught in a web, I try to rescue it by getting the webbing off of the wings, legs, etc. am I actually helping it? Or should I just let the spider do its job? What do dragonflies mean in different cultures?

Between Dumplings

What are the advantages of the evolution of their shape? It seems too delicate to me. Evolutionarily where do they fall and who are their cousins vs. enemies vs. prey. When they visit my urban fire escape garden I feel like it's a special guest on those rare occasions. What do they find attractive? (it's me, right?)

Honeybee

I watched a TV series ages ago called “The River”, set in the Amazon, where dragonflies were linked to souls/possession from memory. Is there folklore around this?

Honeybee

Another question- I was bitten by one as a kid (I was the weird bug catching girl) and it bit me. No one seems to believe me - why don't more people consider them as capable of biting?

Kim

I live near to a river and last year it flooded massively. This year the nature conservation area on the floodplain seems to have loads of dragonflies. Am I just noticing them more or did the flooding of the land help them out? The land was only flooded for a week but it was marshy for a long time afterwards.

J.Ramshackle

We live next to a marshy pond but somehow very rarely have a problem with mosquitoes. Do we have our large and varied dragonfly population to thank?

J.Ramshackle

Are there any dragonfly species that have specialized relationships with certain plants (as with monarchs & milkweed)?

Sheepan

Why did a dragonfly land on me to die once? he was very large, and quite green. RIP buddy

Joyologist

What role does their coloration play in their life?

LightBrownPillow

How high can they fly? I was along the Chicago waterfront one day this summer and it seemed like there were thousands of them out and flying up at least 10 stories, probably higher

mossdreams

How old evolutionarily are dragonflies?

Time Dr., Phd

Dragonflies seem so different from flies, etc. can you help me see where they fit with other insects (thinking of evolutionary divergence, as opposed to ecological role)?

mossdreams

Can dragonflies smell water?

olivewing

why are dragonflies so friendly? i have met many that have landed on me and just hung out for awhile, is there a reason they are not scared of humans like many other insects are?

Heather Horton Whedon

I can’t wait to hear this episode! Dragonflies and odonates are like jewels sailing through the air!

Stefanie Zaref Morales

Dragonflies vs damselflies: do we need a knight? Why can’t the damsel enjoyed the dragon?

Between Dumplings

Every once in awhile I get to see one in my urban fire escape garden. I feel like they are as surprised to see me as I am them, they do seem to watch me. They're magical. And how the heck did they evolve to be this interesting shape? Why?