![]() ![]() Flies are one of a dragonflies favourite foods, being readily available and easy to catch. Most invertebrates can fall prey to a hungry dragonfly, though flying insects are more likely to be predated. Dragonfly larvaeĭragonflies really aren’t fussy eaters, the principal determiner as to whether they will give something a go being their size compared to its. You’ll notice dragonflies who use this technique perching on a twig or leaf and then darting swiftly out before perching again. Sallying is a method used by species such as skimmers this is where a dragonfly perches and looks for prey before darting out to grab it. Species like southern hawkers commonly use this technique. It’s even been found dragonflies can plan their attacks, anticipating where their prey will head to next and intercepting them. ![]() Extraordinarily agile fliers, it’s pretty hard for prey to escape a hawking dragonfly once it has them in its sights. Hawking is a very common technique, where dragonflies fly backwards and forwards to capture prey as they pass by, either with their arms or their mouths. Gleaning is commonly used by clubtails and damselfly species, who are a close relative of dragonflies. Dragonflies are extraordinary fliers and are able to hover or even fly backwards when required. Gleaning is a method that involves hovering over leaves and vegetation in order to snatch up the tasty insects perching there. But both as larvae and as adult dragonflies, they will eat whenever they have the opportunity. Like all insects they require external heat to give them warmth and allow them to move, meaning they are largely inactive during cold weather or at nighttime. How often do they eat?ĭragonflies eat almost constantly, needing to fatten themselves up as quickly as possible so they can breed and produce young. However, a dragonflies jaw is a little different from that of a mammal, having several different components, including the mandibles, which are used to grasp and tear up the food, and the maxillae that help to chew it. This isn’t too dissimilar to how we eat, aside from the still living part. They primarily catch their prey with their legs, grasping hold of them as they fly past.Īlso read: Is a Dragonfly a Vertebrate or an Invertebrate? How do dragonflies eat?ĭragonflies eat their food using their jaws, munching up their often still living prey and swallowing them down. With their new wings, they will grab up anything they can as they swoop through the air, from mosquitos to moths. Once they are adults, the dragonflies will emerge from the water and become proficient aerial predators. Larger larvae will even eat small fish and amphibians. They will eat a range of aquatic invertebrates, from mosquito larvae to other dragonfly young. ![]()
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