Dragonflies are often mistaken for having a stinger due to their long abdomen, giving them a somewhat scary image. However, there are no recorded dragonfly species that possess a stinger. Instead of stingers, dragonflies have strong mandibles that help them hunt their prey. This YouTube Short by @kelvinwiley discusses dragonflies, specifically the common green darner, in great detail. Read here to learn more about these amazing dragonflies.
The common green darner lives near bodies of water.
©Brooke Bowdren/Shutterstock.com
About the Common Green Darner
The common green darner is one of the most recognizable dragonflies thanks to their large size and bright colorings. This species is one of the largest in North America and has a bright green thorax with a bluish abdomen. This makes them easier to spot than most other species. Their large size gives them power, making darners extremely skilled insect predators in a variety of environments. They are free-roaming insects that live near bodies of water and often inhabit meadows, marshes, and parks. One of their amazing traits is their aerial hunting abilities. Traveling at speeds of roughly 35 miles per hour, they grab onto their prey with their legs, finishing with a strong bite. Common green darners typically hunt mosquitoes, flies, moths, and sometimes other dragonflies.
Dragonflies have historically been mistaken for having stingers due to folklore about them. Nicknames such as “horse stingers” and “devil’s needles” have contributed to this misconception. However, dragonflies do not have stingers or the anatomy to produce venom. When fighting, they use their strong mandibles to crush their prey. As seen in the video above, they are able to bite through human skin. Their small size does not make them a threat, though, as they can only nibble at the surface. Common green darners are an essential part of many different ecosystems, especially in their role as mosquito hunters. By feeding on mosquitoes, they help control mosquito populations and maintain ecological balance. This makes these amazing dragonflies extremely important!
