Life on the Creek!
It is a busy time on the creek for our favorite insect, the dragonfly. We see an abundance of dragonflies as we paddle the marshes this time of year. If you wonder why the dragonfly is our favorite insect there are a couple of great reasons. The number one reason is that they provide great mosquito control. Dragonflies prey on other creatures through their entire life cycle. As larva in bodies of water, they prey on other small creatures (mosquito larva, tiny fish, etc.). As adults, they eat other flying insects with mosquitoes being one of their primary food sources. Dragonflies are also fun to watch as they use their unique double wing structure for both speed and maneuverability. Some species can fly at speeds of up to 30 MPH. They are great fun to watch as they dart about in every direction or just hover in space. There are many other interesting facts about the dragonfly. They are ancient insects and have existed on Earth for approximately 300 million years. They look very much like they did in "dinosaur times," though they have gradually gotten smaller since then. The largest known dragonfly fossil has a wingspan of nearly 3 feet. Imagine encountering him on the creek! Come on out to Ayers Creek and enjoy the dragonflies and other magnificent wildlife.  | | Dragonfly |
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