![]() A rather drab and unremarkable-looking dragonfly were it not for its vivid green eyes, the Hine's Emerald was once located throughout Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio. (Tim) Cashatt, PhD, curator of zoology at the Illinois State Museum, Illinois is home to at least 99 of North America's 307 species of dragonflies, including the endangered Hine's Emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana). A park with a large dragonfly population is a much more pleasant place for people since they help keep in check the number of insects who look upon humans as their next meal.Īccording to Everett D. ![]() During its life span, a dragonfly consumes thousands of insects, mostly mosquitoes. Southern folklore tells of dragonflies reviving snakes from the dead-hence the name "snake doctor." Dragonflies also are known as "devil's darning needles" because of their supposed ability to stitch together the lips of the wicked.While neither of these bizarre nicknames has any factual basis, the name "mosquito hawk" is well-deserved. The dragonfly's abdomen is usually somewhat flattened while a damselfly's is more round and needle-like. Dragonflies have large eyes covering most of their heads, while a damselfly's eyes are set much farther apart. Both possess two sets of wings, but at rest, a dragonfly holds its wings straight out from its side, while most damselflies fold their wings back. Although the dragonflies of today are considerably smaller than their 18-inch ancestors, in many ways, the insects remain unchanged.ĭragonflies look very much like their relatives the damselflies, however, there are obvious differences which make it easy to tell them apart. Having taken wing from the earth's primordial swamps 300 million years ago, dragonflies are among our oldest living creatures. These ferocious predators are the beautiful, and often misunderstood, dragonflies. You can enjoy watching their graceful flight and admiring their iridescent beauty while remaining perfectly safe-unless you happen to be a mosquito. Later, they take to the air, attacking and eating their prey in mid-flight.īut don't let the presence of these fierce creatures keep you from visiting your favorite fishing spot or swimming hole this summer. Then, with lightning speed, they lash out their enormous lower lips, grabbing their unsuspecting victims. These stealthy hunters lurk silently beneath the water's surface, waiting for their next meal to come along. These mosquito munchers can consume as many as 300 insects per day.įerocious predators roam the streams and meadows of Illinois' wetlands and wild open spaces.
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