This dragonfly was rescued from being stomped (by accident), and took refuge on Sarah's hand. With her slender glass-clear wings quivering for warmth, she rested for a long time in the safety of her new friend before finally flying away.
Dragonflies are magnificent and fascinating -- not to mention being Flying Aces when it comes to devouring mosquitoes. Fast -- among the very speediest of insects (up to 24 mph) -- they can also hover and fly backwards. Their nympths are fearsome things, hunting underwater and removing mosquito larva before they have a chance to hatch.
Some cultures, to keep mosquitoes away, tie a live dragonfly to the top of their hat. That seems pretty unfair to the dragonfly, however. We've seen gadgets that you can wear that create a sound simulating the dragonfly's wings, and they seem to work fairly well.
There is a rich cultural heritage surrounding dragonflies in many cultures. In Japan,
dragonflies are symbols of courage, strength, and happiness. Works for us...
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