The Magic of Dragonflies

As a child the unexplainable beauty of dragonflies fascinated me. I could be mesmerized for indefinite periods of time watching them buzz around and appear to float in midair.

I most often would see the dragonflies during family time near the river. Maybe that is why I have such fond memories. Maybe it is the magical way they fluttered about that intrigued me. Or, maybe it is because I heard so many mystical stories about what a dragonfly meant.

Have you ever wondered what the origin of the Dragonfly is? I know I have.

Here are some fun facts you may not know…dragonflies are among the most primitive groups of freshwater insects. They are noted for their striking colors and almost motionless flying abilities.

Did you know that dragonflies were flying in steamy prehistoric forest long before the dinosaurs appeared? Unlike our waistlines and hips that seem to grow with time, the wingspan of the dragonfly has actually been reduced. In prehistoric times they had a wingspan of over 31 inches. Today, the wingspan is only 5 ½ inches.

Did you know that a dragonfly senses the world through its eyes? The two huge eyes have very good color vision and are sensitive to movement in order to detect prey, potential mates and rivals.

In ancient times, the dragonfly was believed to be the spirit of the rice plant by Japanese farmers. Dragonflies were a welcome sign of a good rice harvest. They were also believed to bring good luck in battle.

About 500 A.D. the dragonfly was the symbol of a great Japanese warrior clan. It later become one of the emblems of the emperor. In ancient mythology, Japan was known as Akitsushima, which means "Land of the Dragonflies".

For some Native American tribes they represent swiftness and activity. It is said in some Native American beliefs that dragonflies are a symbol of renewal after a time of great hardship.

Not every culture believed the dragonfly to be good luck. In Europe, dragonflies have often been viewed as sinister. The Norwegian name for dragonflies is "Øyenstikker", which literally means Eye Poker

Long ago in Great Britain dragonflies were considered evil and dangerous. The reason was because people saw them darting at horses. They got the name horse-stingers. The fact was that the dragonflies were catching horseflies, which were the real horse-stingers. So in reality the dragonflies were helping the horses.

If we had to depend on eating what dragonflies eat we would all be thin as a rail. As adults, dragonflies eat mosquitoes, gnats, flies, flying ants, swarming termites, mayflies, midges, butterflies other dragonflies, or just about anything small enough for them to catch. 

Most people have heard that a housefly lives for a very short time. This is true also for dragonflies. Adult dragonflies live for only a couple of months at best. The average life expectancy may be much less than this because they are caught and eaten by a number of predators; including fish, frogs, turtles, other insects, spiders, and birds.  Still others meet an untimely death on the windshield of a passing vehicle.

One of the most amazing facts about dragonflies is how people friendly they are. Dragonflies do not normally bite or sting humans although they have been known to bit in order to escape someone’s grasp. They are actually a valued creature that helps control the population of harmful insects, such as mosquitos. Because of this they have sometimes been called mosquito hawks.

Dragonflies are found in every country on the planet. From Japan to the lands of the American Indian, most people see the dragonfly a symbol of positive forces.

Today, many people love to add a dragonfly tattoo to their body. Dragonfly tattoos symbolize good luck, freedom, change, and inspiration.

If you’re not one to get a tattoo of a dragonfly, perhaps a nice porcelain dragonfly is your choice. Actually, due to numerous requests I now carry a full range of dragonfly gifts for every taste at Just Bears and Stuff. 

To see more dragonflies and other fun things I carry click here.