Tuesday 30 June 2009

What do dragonflies and damselflies eat?

I'll refer to only adult dragonflies and damselflies here - more on Odonata larvae in the near future.

The adult dragonfly is a formidable hunting insect. It uses the basket formed by its legs to catch insects while they are flying. Adult dragonflies and damselflies eat other flying insects, particularly midges and mosquitoes. They also eat mayflies, butterflies, moths, bees, bugs and smaller dragonflies and one Asian species even feeds on spiders from their webs.

Large red damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) feeding:



4 comments:

  1. Popped by for some tips, really good pictures, I will have to try harder.

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  2. A shot beyond words. You are an inspiration.

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  3. WOW!!! I am so very impressed with this character that you've captured and the fact of you capturing it so perfectly! Just look at the expression, the look upon it's face in the last shot :)

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