Do dragonflies eat flies?
In this short article, we will answer the question “Do dragonflies eat flies?” and discuss what the dragonflies eat in the different stages of their lives.
Do dragonflies eat flies?
Yes, dragonflies eat flies and also any insect they can capture. They can also eat other dragonflies as well as the typical midges and mosquitoes, bees, butterflies, and moths. Every day, larger dragonflies will consume more insect prey than their entire body weight.
Some of the most effective predators for controlling mosquito numbers are dragonflies. In addition to clearing the skies as adults, they also consume a significant amount of mosquito larvae as juveniles (which happens in water).
According to one study, mosquito population control may be significantly aided by dragonfly larvae. Although they are most effective when in their larval form, adult dragonflies can also consume up to 100 mosquitoes every day, if not many more.
Dragonflies assist in the management of other insects in addition to mosquito populations.
What do dragonfly larvae eat?
Their mouth and extremities start scanning the water column for prey as soon as they hatch into nymphs. They can swim quite well and will devour practically any little animal that moves in or under the water.
They have a boost system that increases their speed. They destroy all opportunities for their prey to flee by expelling water from a propulsion system when they desire to speed.
The nymph occasionally leaves the water to devour a land animal to change up her diet. This is accomplished so effortlessly that the dragonfly nymph is obviously neither primarily aquatic nor an aquatic insect with gills.
The larvae of mosquitoes, other aquatic insects, worms, and small aquatic vertebrates like tadpoles and small fish are all consumed by dragonfly nymphs.
When they are prepared to leave their aquatic environment, they crawl to the water’s surface, change colour, and then shed their skin to glide gracefully through the air.
What do adult dragonflies eat?
The adult dragonflies take over as the dominant species in their domain and easily convince the majority of the smaller residents that they believe they can avoid these insect-eating predators.
They do this to consume mosquitoes, flies, mosquitoes, and other small flying insects. They do this by using a kind of basket produced by their legs to catch insects in flight. They occasionally also consume bees, moths, and butterflies.
Which kind of prey do dragonflies prefer to eat?
Diptera, which includes flies, mosquitoes, horseflies, and mosquitoes, would be the dragonfly’s preferred meal. The scientists were able to learn about the main food of various odonate species by examining the makeup of their faeces.
Three different kinds of dragonflies’ preferred prey were able to be identified thanks to the study. Scientists discovered that odonate diets resembled those of some bird and bat species, vertebrate predators of odonates.
Dragonflies are among the insect kingdom’s most effective predators, catching 95% of the prey they pursue.
What creatures eat dragonflies?
Because dragonflies can be eaten by birds, frogs, lizards, aquatic insects, spiders, fish, and even other giant dragonflies, some predators consume them as well.
Many dragonflies are territorial, especially the males. Some defend a territory against others of their own kind, some against other dragonfly species, and some against insects in unrelated groups.
Despite the fact that dragonflies are quick and nimble, some predators can catch them. These include hawks, swallows, and several wasp species that also hunt dragonflies and use them as a source of food and a place to deposit their eggs.
Dragonfly larvae are consumed by a variety of duck and heron species on the water.
Did you know that dragonflies can ward off illness?
One of the best predators for reducing mosquito numbers is dragonflies. In addition to clearing the skies as adults, they also consume a lot of mosquito larvae when they are in their larval stage (which happens in water).
According to one study, dragonfly larvae may be crucial in controlling mosquito numbers. Dragonflies can consume up to 100 mosquitoes every day as adults, yet they are most effective when in their larval form.
In addition to reducing mosquito populations, dragonflies also aid in the management of other insects.
Conclusion:
In this short article, we have answered the question “Do dragonflies eat flies?” and discussed what the dragonflies eat in the different stages of their lives.
References:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/05/what-do-dragonflies-eat/
