What is Dragonfly:
Dragonfly is a type of insect of the order Odonatawhich groups some 6,000 species characterized by their long abdomen, wide head and having four wings.
The word dragonfly comes from Latin dragonflywhich in turn is the diminutive of libella which means “balance”, a term that refers to the insect’s ability to remain balanced in the air.
The term dragonfly has existed since ancient times, but it was in the 17th century that the word was introduced by the Swedish naturalist Carlos Linnaeus in his work Systema Naturae.
See also Taxonomy
Dragonfly Anatomy
Inside the eyes of dragonflies there are structures called ommatidia that function as independent eyes.
Dragonflies are characterized by having a long, thin body and wings, which gives them the aerodynamics necessary to fly at high speeds. Additionally, dragonflies have the ability to flap their four wings simultaneously, which helps them use their energy more efficiently.
Their wings, in addition to being super resistant, allow them to fly in any direction (up, down, forward, backward, right, left). This, coupled with their speed, gives them much greater autonomy and ability to defend themselves against predators than other insect species.
Its legs are grouped in such a way that its prey are contained in a kind of bag, which prevents them from escaping and makes it easier for the insect to transport them.
Perhaps one of their most notable characteristics has to do with their ocular system, since they have about 30 thousand structures called ommatidia within their compound eyes. These structures function like an eye in itself, so it is a very complete vision system that allows the dragonfly to capture all movement in a 360-degree range.
Dragonfly reproduction
Two dragonflies in the process of reproduction.
The male dragonfly courts the female by making a particular flight to attract her attention. When the female approaches, the male “hooks” her to her abdomen, and the sexual organs of both join to initiate fertilization.
The females will lay their eggs near water and once they hatch, the life cycle of the new dragonflies will begin.
Dragonfly life cycle
The adult phase of the dragonfly is the shortest, lasting a maximum of six months.
A dragonfly can live between six months and seven years. However, after the eggs hatch, it will live most of its life as a nymph, underwater, feeding on small fish and invertebrates.
At this stage it can live up to about five years, when the dragonfly is ready to become an adult insect through the process of metamorphosis. At that moment, it rises to the surface, begins to take oxygen directly from the air, emerges from its larval skin and spreads its wings to begin the last phase of its life cycle, which will last about six months.
Since most of the life cycle takes place underwater, ponds, lakes, swamps and rivers are usually their natural habitats.
See also Metamorphosis
Esoteric meaning of the dragonfly
Dragonflies have been a symbol of prosperity and good luck in many cultures.
Since ancient times, the dragonfly has been seen as a bringer of fortune, power and balance, the latter due to its ability to fly in all directions.
In the Chronicles of Japan, from the year 720 AD. C, the story is told of how the emperor Yuryako Tenno was bitten by a horsefly and this in turn was attacked by a dragonfly, for which the emperor felt so grateful for the defensive attitude of the insect that he baptized his country with the Named after Aritsu Shima or Dragonfly Island, the ancient name of Japan.
Due to this episode, dragonflies came to be considered animals of good fortune, which is why they were present on samurai helmets, soldiers’ uniforms, and family objects that were considered important.
In Native American culture, the dragonfly is the manifestation of the souls of the deceased; Likewise, they are considered messengers of prosperity.
For its part, in the Mayan culture it was believed that dragonflies helped the Sun to save the broken pieces of the Moon after it fragmented as a result of lightning.
In the area of feng shuithe presence of a dragonfly in the house or gardens means good luck, especially in the area of work or business, so specialists in the field recommend having a painting or some pendant in the shape of a dragonfly in the workplace, home , study area and hall.
Likewise, dreaming about dragonflies represents changes and transformations with good fortune. If a person appears eating a dragonfly in the dream, it may indicate that he or she is experiencing a passion that can hurt or offend the feelings of others.
In addition to the above, in some countries there is a belief that a dragonfly around an individual’s head will drive them mad or suffer punishment. In others, it is said that dragonflies sew the mouths and sometimes the eyes and ears of lying children.
See also Esotericism