The red dragonfly of Vilanova de Sau

* The author is part of the community of readers of La Vanguardia.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
13 June 2023 Tuesday 16:53
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The red dragonfly of Vilanova de Sau

* The author is part of the community of readers of La Vanguardia

In The Photos of the Readers of La Vanguardia we can see in detail this specimen of a red dragonfly, apparently male, captured with the camera in Vilanova de Sau, Osona region.

This small dragonfly native to Eurasia can be seen in a wide variety of aquatic areas, although it prefers still water such as ponds or lakes.

Males turn red when mature, making this specimen appear to be a male. The red dragonfly does not walk and to catch its prey, with its wings it forms a kind of sack that allows it to hold it.

It is a fascinating insect, with a slender figure and rhythmic movement. It is estimated that it can see its prey at a distance of approximately more than 10 meters.

As can be seen in the photographs, it has an elongated body and propeller-shaped wings, which emit a kind of sound when flying, especially when they are in a static position, as is the case in these images.

The red dragonfly uses a tactic to hunt. And it is that it manages to visually impress its prey by making it believe that it is static and, at that moment, it attacks it surprisingly. It feeds on insects such as mosquitoes, flies or drones.