The dragonfly earns its name from the many myths associated to it. It is believed to have come from dragons. A Chinese belief purports that the insect is the embodiment of the soul of the dragon; the latter is a symbol of happiness.
Dragonfly in science
Scientifically, the dragonfly is an insect that belongs to the family Odonata. This name comes from the Greek word for tooth. Odonates (comprising dragonflies and damselflies) were believed to have teeth, something that science has disproved; rather, evidence shows that these insects have structures called mandibles which they use to consume their prey.
Drangonfly and Feng Shui
The dragonfly is one of the symbols of happiness attributed to Feng Shui.
Feng Shui relates to metaphysics. The term means “wind-water”, and it is a system of Chinese philosophy that connects people with their environment in terms of energy flow. Feng Shui comprises ancient knowledge meant to help one to balance the different types of energies in any given space.
One of its aim being to seek harmony, it comes with a series of tips to improve life. It began centuries ago, and there are still believers in the system. However, it is also often dismissed as pseudoscience because of the superstitions it entails.
According to the laws of Feng Shui, the dragonfly heralds new beginnings and prosperity. Its gentle and delicate movements are thought to signify change in direction, specially its ability to fly backwards.
The animal is, thus, used to symbolise change, specially pertaining to emotional maturity and gained insight. Its agility is also seen as a sense of poise and power, qualities that are nurtured throughout life, strengthened with age. Furthermore, it is often linked with strength, and peace and harmony, because of the belief that watching a dragonfly in flight brings tranquility.
Other Legends
The relationship of dragonflies with water is also discussed in legends: the action of the dragonfly flying across water is an illustration of going beyond the surface. The implication is to encourage one to dig deeper into the meaning of life itself.
You will also often find certain beliefs attributing the dragonfly to the hidden world of dreams and ideas.
https://www.legendsandmyths.net/dragonflies-their-symbolism-in-feng-shui/
IUCN Redlist: over 6000 dragonfly species assessed. With the most recent update of the IUCN Redlist1 as of 9th December 2021, the number of species at risk of extinction on the Red List has exceeded 40,000 for the first time. The IUCN Red List now includes 142,577 species of which 40,084 are threatened with extinction. However, of the largest of all organism groups, the insects, only 12,100 species are assessed so far. The complete dragonfly assessment contributes almost 50% to this number (6,016 species). The assessment was done by IUCN SSC Dragonfly Specialist Group co-chaired by Viola Clausnitzer and Federico Lozano.
“Dragonflies are highly sensitive indicators of the state of freshwater ecosystems, and this first global assessment finally reveals the scale of their decline. It also provides an essential baseline we can use to measure the impact of conservation efforts,” said Dr Clausnitzer, “To conserve these beautiful insects, it is critical that governments, agriculture and industry consider the protection of wetland ecosystems in development projects, for example by protecting key habitats and dedicating space to urban wetlands.”
The assessment of the world’s dragonflies and damselflies reveals that 16% out of 6,016 species are at risk of extinction .Their decline is symptomatic of the widespread loss of the marshes, swamps and free-flowing rivers they breed in, mostly driven by the expansion of unsustainable agriculture and urbanization (for instance in South America) around the world.
In South and Southeast Asia, more than a quarter of all species are threatened, mostly due to the clearing of wetland and rainforest areas to make room for crops such as palm oil. In Central and South America, the major cause of dragonflies’ decline is the clearing of forests for residential and commercial construction.
Pesticides, other pollutants (particularly eutrophication) and climate change are growing threats to species in every region of the world, and are the greatest threats to dragonflies s in North America and Europe.
However, it was recently demonstrated that many riverine species in Central Europe recovered after heavy declines, which is due to various programs aiming to increase water quality and restore natural river morphology2, indicating that restoration efforts are not futile.
Dr Jon Paul Rodríguez, Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission pointed out that “Most of Earth’s surface, about 71%, is covered by oceans. But only 3.5% of Earth’s water is freshwater. Humans share this precious resource with all other organisms that live on land. The decline of dragonflies brings again to our attention the need to prioritise investment in freshwater ecosystems, an issue that is often overlooked.
https://worlddragonfly.org/iucn-redlist-over-6000-dragonfly-species-assessed/
There are over 1 million species of insects and each and every one of them fascinates me. But the dragonfly tops the list among others. It is even believed that if a dragonfly lands on your head, it is good luck in some parts of the world. This top ten list brings you the most beautiful dragonfly species from across the world. So, let us not waste another single second and delve into our top ten list!
Dragonfly Species : https://earthnworld.com/7054-most-beautiful-dragonfly-species/
Earliest Cultural Significance
Japan is also known as the Island of the Dragonfly which in Japanese is Akitsushima. Akitsu is an older version of tombo, the Japanese word for dragonfly, and shima stands for island. There are several similar versions of a legend of how this name came to be, all starting with the same central character- a divine emperor said to be the first in Japan by the name of Jimnu.
In all versions of this ancient tale this divine ruler sits atop a very high mountain and as he looks down upon the islands of Japan he sees an image that brings to mind the dragonfly or tombo.
From here the iterations of the tale diverge: in one version the image of the island in conjunction with the nearby continent looks to him like two dragonflies mating, in another version the islands are like a dragonfly curled on itself to lick its own tail, and in yet another version the islands call to mind the shape of a circle of dragonflies in flight.
In Japan the dragonfly is known as the “victory insect”, or kachimushi, because of its hunting prowess and also because it is known to never retreat. Dragonflies are agile and fast fliers and can even hover, but never fly backwards.
There is another Japanese legend that further explains the victorious and good fortune beliefs associated with the dragonfly. In this tale the 21st emperor, Yuryaka Tenvo had a horsefly bite him on the arm while out hunting.
Before anymore harm could come to him, a dragonfly swooped down and captured the offending bug.
This so impressed and pleased the emperor that he renamed the region Akitsu-no (Dragonfly Plain) in honor of his rescuer.
One of Japans staple crops is rice which requires the same water habitat of the dragonfly. Therefore the dragonfly is often associated with the rice paddies of Japan and with that the nostalgia of growing up in a farming community tied to the land.
This nostalgia is represented in the inclusion of the dragonfly image in many forms in Japanese art such as the poem/song presented on this site as well as in paintings, and on pottery and fabrics as shown in the photos below.
In addition to the nostalgia represented by the dragonfly there is also a folk belief that the tombo is the soul of a departed ancestor come back to visit their loved ones. The summer festival of Obon celebrates this sacred event as depicted in the photo to the left.
https://dragonflyandjapaneseculture.weebly.com/japanese-culture.html
Dragonfly Spirit Animal & Totem
The dragonfly totem carries the wisdom of transformation and adaptability in life. As spirit animal, the dragonfly is connected to the symbolism of change and light.
When the dragonfly shows up in your life, it may remind you to bring a bit more lightness and joy into your life. Those who have this animal as totem may be inclined to delve deep into their emotions and shine their true colors.
Dragonfly Meaning
The dragonfly is generally associated with the symbolic meaning of transformation. Here are common meanings for this animal totem:
- Change and transformation
- Adaptability
- Joy, lightness of being
- Symbol of the realm of emotions, invitation to dive deeper into your feeling
- Being on the lookout for illusions and deceits, whether are external or personal
- Connection with nature’s spirits, fairies realms
Dragonfly totem wisdom and change
Dragonflies start to grow in water and then move into the air and fly. When this spirit animal shows up in your life you may be called to transform and evolve.
Symbol of metamorphosis and transformation, it inspires those who have it as a totem to bring about the changes needed in their lives in order to go to reach their full potential.
When this spirit animal shows up in your life, it’s an indication that it’s time for change.
Just like the dragonfly changes colors as it matures, you may be called to live and experience yourself differently. Stay open to the enfoldment of your personal journey.
Dragonfly as power animal and adaptability
The dragonfly is characterized by amazing flight patterns as it appears to be able to change direction swiftly, gliding through the air with no apparent effort.
Its lightness inspires those who have the dragonfly as totem to use their ability to be flexible and highly adaptable in any situation.
https://www.spiritanimal.info/dragonfly-spirit-animal/
The List of Useful Insects
Overall, most people aren’t big fans of bugs and all their creepy, crawly legs and squirmy, squishy bodies, but while there are many insects worthy of our fear and loathing, there are plenty of useful insects that we should be celebrating.
In fact, many beneficial garden insects actually improve soil, pollinate plants or kill off nasty insects that harm plants.
Some useful insects include honey bees, ladybugs, praying mantises, green lacewings, dragonflies and earthworms.
Beautifully Daring Dragonflies
Dragonflies are like ladybugs in that many insect haters still appreciate their beauty. They are also easy to love because they prey on pesky flying insects including mosquitoes, flies, moths, whiteflies and fruit flies.
They also eat the larvae of these creatures, stopping them before they can cause damage.
https://sciencing.com/partridge-eat-8668328.html
…the dragonfly is an ancient creature, and actually dates back 300 million years, when it arose in giant form with 2 foot wings and 4 feet across. There are many tales of the dragon fly from many cultures around the world.
Ancient mythology reveals the original name for Japan is “Akitsushima” meaning dragonfly island. Dragonflies are known to be returning ancestors and celebrated in the Summer Festival known as Obon which is coming up on Friday, August 13th.
Samurai warriors identified themselves with dragonflies as a symbol of power.
In a Mayan legend, dragonflies hold the power to heal and rebirth the Moon Goddess Ixchel by humming over her and filling her up with their life force.
Zuni Native tribal peoples see dragonfly as having supernatural powers and who carries prayers to the spirit world.
The indigenous people of the southwestern tribe of the Hopi, also believe the dragonfly has supernatural powers and are shamanistic.
They assisted the ancient Hopi in migrating to find their permanent home, and helping them to locate water and to grow corn. The Hopi have lived in their permanent home in Arizona for over 2000 years, but they are rooted in much more ancient cultures from which they migrated from South America, Central America and Mexico.
They are considered one of the oldest cultures living in documented history.
https://awakenthesacreddream.com/2021/08/04/golden-dragonfly/
Ancient Egypt: Dragonflies from the Old and Middle Kingdoms
Perched dragonfly on low relief panel at the Tomb of Mereruka, Old Kingdom, Saqqara, Egypt. Photo by Jenn Anderson.
His ancient tomb, or House of Eternity, dates to the Sixth Dynasty (2345-2333 BC) of the Old Kingdom. Mereuruka was a vizier, the highest official serving the Pharaoh Teti, and was married to the Pharaoh’s daughter. As a non-royal, his tomb stands out for its size and grandness. Jenn, who was on her second visit to her favorite country, spotted the dragonfly while strolling along a relief carved panel that depicted a hunting scene of men punting a papyrus raft along the Nile.
This dragonfly is perched on a reed with a frog dangerously close by. In Jenn’s photo, you can see an arm of a boatman, a locust, a fish and, I am guessing, a mongoose. Hunting in the marshy wetlands of the Nile teeming with wildlife was a favored pastime.
“Paddling on light reed boats through the papyrus thickets, fishing and fowling, was for the the Egyptians a most desirable way to experience the richness and beauty of divine creation,” according to Dorothea Arnold, curator of Egyptian Art, in “An Egyptian Bestiary,” a publication of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Such scenes were carved with the intention of providing everything that would be needed in the afterlife. Perhaps this dragonfly, having hopefully evaded the frog’s long reach and appetite, would greet Mereruka in the next world.
Archaeological expeditions beginning in 1906 have made the Met’s Egyptian sections an eye-opening marvel to generations of art historians. Dragonfly amulets from the Middle Kingdom, were discovered during excavations at Lisht, a Twelfth Dynasty necropolis on the west bank of the Nile, south of Cairo.
The amulets dated to the Middle Kingdom, ca 2050-1650 B.C., a sort of golden age, with political stability, economic prosperity, and a resurgence of cultural activity in the creation of statuary and fantastic funerary monuments and pyramid complexes.
The dragonfly amulets included a dragonfly bead from a collar. They are made of shiny, bright blue faience, a glazed ceramic material made of silica, alkaline salts, lime and metallic turquoise colorant.
“In Egypt, objects made with faience were considered magical, filled with the undying shimmer of the sun, and imbued with the powers of rebirth,” writes Met Curator Carolyn Riccardelli.
Amulets found in the coffins were imbued with symbolic meanings and magical properties, such as ensuring the deceased a safe transition and a harmonious afterlife.
https://dragonflydancing.com/ancient-egypt-dragonflies-from-the-old-and-middle-kingdoms/
Massive Dragonflies Roamed the Ancient Earth
A group of biologists has
demonstrated in real-life that the first dragonflies to roam the Earth some 300 million years ago were a lot larger than their counterparts are today.
In a new series of experiments, the team emulated the environment on the planet, as it would have appeared all that time ago. They created special chambers, in which they reared dragonflies to see what happens.
The conclusion of the research is as much surprising as it is simple – expose dragonflies to high levels of atmospheric oxygen, and you get insects that are at least 15 percent larger than their “peers” living in the wild.
In other words, the scientists observed a direct correlation between the size of the creatures and the amount of oxygen there was in the chamber. The Earth’s atmosphere was very rich in oxygen 300 million years ago, experts say.
In addition to providing an interesting insight into how dragonflies develop, this study also lends additional credence to the idea that a direct connection must have existed between elevated levels of oxygen in the ancient air and the enormous size of the earliest animals on Earth.
This has allowed us to ask the question, ‘how have oxygen levels through time influenced the evolution of insects’?” he adds further. The expert presented the findings on November 1 at the annual meeting of the Geophysical Society of America, in Denver.
According to data derived from core samples and other sources, the Earth had about 50 percent more atmospheric oxygen during the Paleozoic era, Wired reports.
https://news.softpedia.com/news/Massive-Dragonflies-Roamed-the-Ancient-Earth-164467.shtml
Dragonflies are one of the most ancient and fascinating insects in the world. Their name in Latin, libellula, means “little dragon” and refers to their dragon-like appearance. Dragonflies are found on every continent except Antarctica and are especially common in tropical and subtropical regions.
There are over 5,000 species of dragonflies, which vary in size, color, and habits. Most dragonflies are predators, preying on small insects like mosquitoes. Their large eyes and quick flight make them effective hunters.
Dragonflies are also important pollinators, and their larvae are a food source for fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Dragonflies have long been a source of inspiration for artists and writers.
They have been featured in myths and folklore from many cultures. In Japan, dragonflies are symbols of courage and strength, while in Native American cultures they are often associated with happiness and good luck.
The insect is a slender, non-stinging insect with iridescent wings that are spread out at rest; adults feed on mosquitoes as well as nymphs. A woodchat’s primary food sources are insects, beetles, damsel flies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, wasps, and bees. Dragonflies and damselflies are now classified as indicators of riverine integrity, indicating a riverine environment that is stable.
What Do Dragonflies Represent In Mythology?
Dragonflies are thought to have originated in American mythology. The coyote trick tricked a dragon into shapeshifting, which it could not reverse. The dragonfly is associated with speed, illusion, and change due to its symbolism. It’s nice to see how close the dragon and dragonfly are.
The dragonfly has long fascinated people on every continent it has ever been discovered in, and its unique characteristics have developed with each civilization. The flight of the dragonfly across water represents an act of exploration into the deeper meaning and significance of life itself.
The intensity of an object’s color is determined by its angle of view and the polarization of light that falls on it. A dragonfly’s wings and body are both covered in iridescence. Its existence is celebrated as a clear and undeniable vision into the realities of life, as well as an end of self-created illusions.
A few dragonflies are said to hover around horses that are kicking and stamping around, causing the name Horse Stinger to be coined.
The flying Dragonflies remind us that we are all interconnected and that we all have a role to play in the world around us.
https://biobubblepets.com/the-fascinating-and-ancient-world-of-dragonflies/
https://mbsbio2.blogspot.com/2013/11/prehistoric-gigantic-insects.html
Why are there no longer gigantic insects? Some prehistoric insects could get as large as a meter. What happened?
According to research, during the Carboniferous and Permian, insects were incredibly big. Thanks to fossils that were found by archaeologists, now we know that there once existed gigantic insects. There are several hypotheses as to why they shrunk over time and now are so tiny that some are barely noticeable.
One of the most valid or credible hypotheses is that in the past there was more oxygen, and that since the level or quantity of oxygen has decreased this caused insects to decrease in size as well. Three hundred million years ago, giant bugs were normal and this was due to an atmosphere with 30 percent more oxygen than we have today.
Nowadays our oxygen level is around twenty percent.
An article by Ker Than for the National Geographic News states that birds are the reason why gigantic insects may have become extinct. (1) (1) “The largest insects today could perhaps be three times as large as they currently are, based on current oxygen levels”. During the Jurassic Era birds became larger and this caused a threat to giant insects, which quickly might have become their prey.
Yet, this is just a theory that has not been proven. It is most likely that there size decreased due to the oxygen level going down significantly. (2) “We know that these gigantic forms went extinct as oxygen levels declined drastically in the Permian (Huey & Ward, 2005), and some gigantic forms re-evolved in the Cretaceous oxygen peak (Dudley, 2000).”.
Goran Safarek Photography.
https://worldrivers.net/2019/01/30/dragonflies-and-damselflies-ancient-flyers/
Thelytokous parthenogenesis in the damselfly Ischnura hastata.
Thelytokous parthenogenesis, the production of female-only offspring from unfertilized eggs, has been described in all the insect orders, but is a rare phenomenon in the Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies).
The only-known case of parthenogenesis in this group is the North American damselfly species Ischnura hastata, which has parthenogenetic populations in the Azores Islands. Here, we present for the first time the results of laboratory rearing, which showed parthenogenetic reproduction in the Azorean I. hastata populations.
In an attempt to understand how parthenogenesis could have evolved in this species, we first determined the genetic mode of parthenogenesis by analysing the genotype of parthenogenetic females and their offspring at three polymorphic microsatellite loci.
In addition, we used polymerase chain reaction amplification to test whether parthenogenesis in I. hastata could be bacterially induced.
https://www.nature.com/articles/hdy200965
The citrine forktail (Ischnura hastata) is a damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae.
This species is 20–27 mm in length, and its hindwing is 11–15 mm long; it is thus considerably smaller than most European members of the genus Ischnura.
Adult males have a black head and thorax, with blue markings, and a largely yellow abdomen, with black markings on its upper surface. The term citrine refers to its yellowish colouration. Adult females are initially largely orange, marked with black above on the head and rear part of the abdomen. They undergo a colour change,
through brown or olive to greyish, as they mature.
Male citrine forktails are the only damselflies in the world with the pterostigma situated away from the leading edge of the wing.
It is native to North and South America, and there is a population on the Azores. The Azorean population is likely to have been present since the late 19th Century, it was not identified as this species until 1990.
In North America, this species has a typical dragonfly life-history. However, the population on the Azores reproduces by parthenogenesis, making it the only population of Odonata anywhere in the world known to reproduce by this means.
In the southern United States, adults are on the wing year-round, while farther north the flight season is from April to November, and in the Azores from May to August.
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Citrine_forktail
How Dragonflies Mate
Dragonfly sex is a rough-and-tumble affair. If you’ve ever seen a pair of mating dragonflies in the act, you know that their sexual coupling requires the flexibility and acrobatic skill of a “Cirque de Soleil” performer.
Females get bitten, males get scratched, and sperm winds up everywhere. These strange mating habits have survived millions of years of evolution, so the dragonflies must know what they’re doing…
How Dragonfly Males Find Receptive Females
Dragonflies don’t engage in elaborate courtship rituals. In a few dragonfly families, the male might display his colors or fly over his territory to show a potential mate what a good oviposition site he’s chosen for their offspring, but that’s about it.
Since dragonflies have extraordinarily good vision, the males rely mostly on their eyesight to find appropriate female partners. A typical pond or lake habitat will support many species of dragonflies and damselflies.
To succeed in passing on his DNA, a male dragonfly must be able to distinguish females of his own species from all the other Odonates flying around. He can recognize a conspecific female by observing her flight style, her colors and patterns, and her size.
https://www.thoughtco.com/how-dragonflies-mate-1968255
How to Distinguish Between a Dragonfly and a Damselfly :
No other insects symbolize summer quite like the group of colorful, primitive-looking predatory insects we generally call dragonflies. In the late summer garden, they resemble tiny animal fighter jets, fierce-looking but also beautiful and fascinating.
In reality, these members of the insect order Odonata include not only the true dragonflies but also a closely related group known as damselflies. The order includes roughly 5,900 species, of which about 3,000 are dragonflies (suborder Epiprocta, infraorder Anisoptera), and about 2,600 are damselflies (suborder Zygoptera).
Dragonflies and damselflies are both predatory flying insects that look primitive and ancient because they are: fossil records show prehistoric species that are quite similar to modern species, although considerably larger.
Modern dragonflies and damselflies are most prevalent in tropical regions, but some species can be found in almost every part of the world except for the polar regions.
Dragonflies and damselflies are often confused with one another because they share many characteristics, including membranous wings, large eyes, slender bodies, and small antennae.
But there are also clear differences between dragonflies and damselflies, outlined in the table below. In general, dragonflies are studier, thicker-bodied insects, while damselflies have longer, thinner bodies.
Once the obvious differences are learned—eyes, body, wings, and resting position—most people find it fairly easy to identify the insects and tell them apart.
https://www.thoughtco.com/difference-between-a-dragonfly-and-a-damselfly-1968359
UNIVERSE 
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