The Dining Table

  Down by the Frog Pond, there is a rather large piece of driftwood.  Driftwood is not naturally found in a man made pond but since I needed a "turtle ramp" to help the turtles climb up the steep, slippery sides, the wood was hauled up the hill from the marsh.  This piece and several others not only give the turtles an escape route but provide the other pond critters a handy shelter or perch...whichever is needed at the moment.  Today, a blue dragonfly was utilizing the wood as a dining table.

  The dragonfly was happily snatching up grasshoppers and katydids from the remnants of the garden.  With each catch, the dragonfly would fly back to the Frog Pond, alight on the driftwood and begin to devour is prey.  It was fascinating to watch this amazing creature while it was on the hunt.  Dragonflies can fly in any direction...not just forward.  They can fly up, down, sideways and even backwards.  Having two sets of wings with muscles that can work independently allows the dragonfly to change the angle of each wing.  This gives them the amazing flying skills.  The independently hinged wings makes them superior fliers.  They pretty much can out maneuver any prey.  Speed and endurance also play into the dragonfly's predatory skills.  They can fly up to 30mph and some species can fly across oceans during migration.  

  My little dragonfly was not out to set any records of speed, endurance nor agility.  He just wanted a meal.  The grasshoppers and katydids were readily available so he really did not have to work hard. My visit with him ended when he decided that a stinkbug should be on the menu.  Have at it, Dragonfly Buddy!  You can eat any bugs you want!