Dragonflies have amazing vision due in large part to their compound eyes. The compound eyes are actually composed of over 12,000 simple eyes. These accessories help make dragonflies one of the most agile hunters in the insect world.

Dragonflies are among the most ancient of living creatures. Fossil records, clearly recognizable as the forefathers of our present day species, go back to Carboniferous times, which means that the insects were flying more than 300 million years ago, predating dinosaurs by over 100 million years and birds by some 150 million. It would be tragic if, after surviving such an unimaginable number of years, it should be our generation that witnesses the disappearance of some of these beautiful insects. Several are considered species of special concern in PA.

Dragonfly young develop in water and, in order to protect them, it is necessary to study the exact habitat requirements of each individual species and then to protect, conserve and, where possible, increase the number of suitable habitats. The habitat requirements of some species are narrow, and these are obviously the ones that are most at risk. Other species are catholic in their needs and will survive in almost any kind of water, a few even tolerating water that is brackish. The majority fall between these extremes, some requiring running water, some still and some bogs and marshes.

Sadly, suitable sites are disappearing faster than new ones are formed and, until that trend is reversed, there is continuing cause for concern. Rivers become polluted; ponds are allowed to become clogged up with debris and weeds; marshland is drained to satisfy the ever increasing demand for roads and houses; primeval forests are disappearing and, with them, the mountain streams which contain some of the world's most interesting and primitive species.

Today's photo close-up is courtesy of Dennis Paulson.

Reference: The Worldwide Dragonfly Association

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