My brother Tracy sent the picture of the Minnesota dragonfly. Now this incredible little insect is neither a dragon nor a fly but to a mosquito, it is might as well be breathing fire. Dragonflies are fascinating little creatures and this one was particularly beautiful with amazing green eyes. His eyes are one of the dragonflies most useful assets. Equally praiseworthy is his wonderful flying ability. Some of the larger dragonflies have been clocked at 60 mph. It can fly up, down, forward, backward, and side to side. A dragonfly reminds me of a helicopter. In fact, I wonder if the designer of the helicopter was inspired by the dragonfly?
We need millions of dragonflies in northwest Arkansas because the mosquitoes are a terrible nuisance. Is there anything more aggravating than the annoying whine of the mosquito? Dragonflies’ favorite meal is mosquitoes. I have a theory that if we did not interfere with nature’s balance, the dragonflies would take care of the small blood-sucking pests. I believe that God planned a balanced ecology and dragonflies are an important part of it.
At Manos Meadows, my home in Oklahoma, dragonflies made their appearance at about the same time as purple thistles began to bloom in the pasture. To me, nothing said “Oklahoma Summer” more than the nodding, regal heads of Queen Anne’s Lace, the beautiful purple of the thistle and the equally pretty dragonflies darting here and there above the grasses.
I remember as a child, watching dragonflies hover above the creek. We called them “snake doctors”. I wonder why? Was there some folklore about dragonflies helping an ailing snake? An insect that darts through the air on rainbow-colored wings is apt to inspire many legends. As for me, I think the dragonfly is enchanting enough even without fanciful stories. He is a lovely, useful, graceful little acrobat and one of the many facets of a magical season known as summer.
Courtesy of Tracy Day
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