Which Insects Do Dragonflies And Damselflies Hunt?
Which Insects Do Dragonflies And Damselflies Hunt?
Although insects in general may not be the most popular creatures on the planet, dragonflies and damselflies fascinate many people. Researchers have long known that dragonflies are quite fierce, as they are the apex predators of invertebrates. Dragonflies and damselflies have long been known to control airspace, but researchers have never been able to conclusively determine which types of organisms dragonflies prey upon and consume. This is due to the incredible speed at which these insects travel and catch their prey. Apparently, dragonflies and damselflies move too fast for scientists, as visual observation has not helped to determine which organisms dragonflies and damselflies enjoy feasting on. In order to find out what animals dragonflies and damselflies prefer to eat, scientists have collected large amounts of their droppings from the environment. These droppings were analyzed in order to reveal which types of animal DNA were contained within, thus allowing scientists to finally learn which animals are at risk of becoming dragonfly food.
For some reason, it is very important for Finnish researchers to know what dragonflies and damselflies are eating. After conducting DNA analyses on the fecal matter expelled from these two flying insects, the Finnish researchers learned that three different dragonfly species prey on a large variety of invertebrate animals. Although the three different dragonfly species expelled feces containing many different organisms, they were also found to keep diets consisting of the same types of insects. The three different dragonfly droppings that were analyzed revealed that these insects prey upon similar animals, and their diets are similar to other airborne predators. Surprisingly, dragonflies eat the same types of animals that birds and bats eat.
After the researchers from the University of Helsinki in Finland were asked why this research was necessary, they claimed that this particular study can tell scientists a lot about insect populations around the world. Since dragonflies are at the top of the food web in regions around the globe, knowing which types of animals they eat is important for understanding how dragonflies impact the world’s various ecosystems.
Have you ever spotted a dragonfly or a damselfly feeding on another insect in the wild?