Insects

A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata, infraorder Anisoptera (from Greek ἄνισος anisos, “unequal” and πτερόν pteron, “wing”, because the hindwing is broader than the forewing).

Dragonfly larvae (nymphs) are aquatic, usually drab, with 6 legs, large eyes, and small wing buds on the back of the thorax. Gills are located inside the rectum (unlike those of damselflies, which extend from the hind end like 3 leaflike tails). They breathe by drawing water in and out of their hind end.

In almost every part of the world, the Dragonfly symbolizes change, transformation, adaptability, and self-realization. The change that is often referred to has its source in mental and emotional maturity and understanding the deeper meaning of life.

In many cultures, an adult dragonfly is believed to be a symbol of death. A few tribes claim that a dragonfly is a transition phase of a beloved one who has passed away. They represent a metaphor of life and death.

Growth And Development During moulting, it shakes off the old and takes on the new. After every moult, the dragonfly enters a new phase of life symbolizing growth and the fact that we should aspire to be higher and better versions of ourselves. The bible in 1 Peter 2:2, encourages growth among Christians.

The dragonfly is a symbol for those grieving a loss. As the story shows, the dragonfly honors all people who have left this life. Here’s the story: “In the bottom of an old pond lived some grubs who could not understand why none of their group ever came back after crawling up the lily stems to the top of the water.

Obsidian Butterfly

In its metamorphosis from the common, colorless caterpillar to the exquisite winged creature of delicate beauty, the butterfly has become a metaphor for transformation and hope; across cultures, it has become a symbol for rebirth and resurrection, for the triumph of the spirit and the soul over the physical prison, the …

The females lay eggs, the eggs develop into nymphs or larvae and the larvae live over the fall, winter and spring in the water. So if you were to go out in the fall, winter or spring, you can still find dragonflies.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this small peek into the world of dragonflies! The static swarms should last another couple of weeks or so, and then you’ll see sparse amounts of dragonflies through about mid-October. After that they’ll disappear again until about April, so enjoy them while you can.

Dragonflies emerge throughout the summer starting as early as mid-April, but it is really early June when you can expect to see the adults returning to the waterside looking for mates.

Each spring and fall, large dragonflies called green darners fly across North America. A green darner can travel as far as 900 miles on its two-inch wings, fluttering from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.