Older than dinosaurs, these jewel-like beauties fascinate and inspire

The sun is high overhead and the lake glistens before you. A soft breeze rustles the leaves on a nearby tree. Out of the corner of your eye you see something dart by and land on a rock to the left. You hold your breath and turn slowly, not wanting to disturb it.

You study the iridescent wings covered in intricate patterns, wondering how something that looks so fragile remains intact.

“Aren’t dragonflies good luck?” you think.

Before the thought is complete, the tiny creature moves on, but the smile on your face lingers.

Dragonflies are older than dinosaurs, dating back more than 300 million years. Widely spread throughout the world, found on every continent except Antarctica, dragonflies fascinate people—for scientific study, as inspiration for art, and simply as a wonder of nature.

 

Passionate pursuit

Paul-Michael Brunelle, an odonatologist (expert in dragonflies and damselflies) from Middle New Cornwall, NS who passed away in early 2020, left a successful career in graphic design to pursue dragonflies. He waded through bogs, streams, and marshes collecting data, meticulously recording his findings. Brunelle even discovered a new species in 1995, the broad-tailed shadowdragon (Neurocordulia michaeli) which he named after his son, Michael. Much of his work is now housed in the New Brunswick Museum, which holds one of the largest dragonfly collections in Canada.

Brunelle’s passion is evident in his words. “They are brightly coloured with blues, greens, yellows and reds, and some species have black, white and orange markings on the wings. They are strong fliers and extremely agile in the air. For example, the Swift River cruiser flies at over 50 miles per hour and can dodge a net with contemptuous ease—very annoying to try to collect. My wife Meredith once spent an afternoon watching me try to catch one particularly aggravating specimen. I’m not sure which of us she was rooting for.”

 
Paul-Michael Brunelle was a dragonfly and damselfly expert from Nova Scotia who discovered the broad-tailed shadowdragon (Neurocordulia michaeli) which he named after his son, Michael.

Indicators of ecosystem health

John Klymko, a zoologist with the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Collection (AC CDC) in Sackville, NB, continues the study of dragonflies. Surveys of dragonflies are collected regularly as part of the study of biodiversity in Atlantic Canada, monitoring changes in ecosystems, and keeping tabs on any potential species at risk. Whether the data is obtained as a separate project or in conjunction with monitoring other taxa, including birds and lichen, it provides valuable insight.

“The decline or loss of a species is an indication that the ecosystem is failing to support native species; and it is likely indicative that other species in the ecosystem are at risk. Dragonflies don’t decline for no reason,” says Klymko. Possible reasons for this dip could be loss of habitat, variation in water quality, and climate change.

When looking for evidence, Klymko and his colleagues are usually searching for the discarded skin left behind when the adult dragonfly emerges from its nymph stage. Dragonflies have a three-stage life cycle. Eggs are laid in or near water. The larvae stage, or nymph, lives in the water for a few months to several years depending on the variety. Nymphs leave the water and the adult dragonfly emerges, leaving the exuviae, specific to the species, behind—and easier to locate than the insect, which has flown away.

There are 99 species of dragonflies in NB, 88 in NS, 47 in PEI, and 28 in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“Each species is specific to certain habitat types,” says Klymko. “The seaside dragonlet is only found in salt marshes, and in Canada it is only known from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Species like skillet slubtail and pygmy snaketail are only found in large rivers.” The eastern amberwing and twelve-spotted skimmer like still water found in wetlands. The twelve-spotted skimmer was first recorded in PEI in 2008, and is now common there. In 2015 it was recorded on Sable Island for the first time, and it now appears to be established there.

Universal appeal

Christine Noronha, an entomologist in Charlottetown, PEI has a keen interest and vast knowledge of dragonflies even though they don’t relate to her work with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. “Who wouldn’t like dragonflies?” she asks. Noronha enjoys studying their behavior. They can fly in all directions, moving up, down, forward, backward, and sideways because of the way their four wings are attached. “They look as if they’re agitated when they dart around, and I love to watch them,” she says. Sometimes they dip their abdomens in the water. This is done to cool their bodies or to lay their eggs.

Dragonflies are predacious carnivores with great accuracy, catching 95 per cent of their prey, often while in flight. This is partly due to their large globular eyes. “They can process 200 images per second. Humans only process 60,” says Noronha.

The Children’s Memorial Dragonfly Park in Dartmouth, NS
 

Inky inspiration

Dragonflies—also known as darning needle, snake doctor, mosquito hawk, and water witch—are the subject of many art forms because of their lore and their beauty. Jewellers create earrings and necklaces. Photographers spend hours waiting to capture the perfect shot, and painters use their talents to display the beautiful creatures using water colours, oils, and acrylics. Every medium, including metal, stained glass, wood, clay, embroidery floss, yarn, fabric, paper, and tattoo ink have been crafted into dragonflies.

“I got my dragonfly tattoo on my right foot just before my 20th high school reunion,” says Lesley Brake, of Dartmouth, NS. She wasn’t sure about returning to the place she’d grown up. Her childhood was not ideal and she had many bad memories. With time she was able to look back with a new perspective. “My dragonfly is a symbol of transformation. I’m still me, but I’ve changed.”

Jason Locke, owner of Dragonfly Tattoos in St. John’s, NL says he chose the name “dragonfly” for his studio because, “They’re so bright and full of life they just remind me to keep following the light. They remind me of the simple beauty which can be seen in nature.”

 

Moving memorial

The Children’s Memorial Dragonfly Park Society, a group of grieving parents in Dartmouth, NS, erected a sculpture of a dragonfly in honour of their lost children. On the accompanying sculpture is an open book which describes the legend of the dragonfly.

 “In a pond, under the lily pads, water beetles live. Sometimes they feel immense sadness when a beetle climbs the stem of a lily pad and is gone forever. One day a little beetle climbed the stem. She was sure she would return home to tell what she discovered. She broke through the surface of the water and lay on top of the lily pad. As she slept in the warmth of the sun, her body changed into a magnificent, colourful dragonfly with wings. She soared and discovered a new world. She remembered her family and friends and wanted to ease their pain, but her new dragonfly body could not break the surface of the water to return to them. She knew, when it was their time, they too would join her and fly off into a joyous new life.”

Painted symbolism

Holly Carr, an artist in Canning, NS, says, “Dragonflies figure prominently in many of my paintings.” Initially, she painted the creatures because she was drawn to them personally, but people had positive comments about more than their decorative value. “There were strong reactions and a sense of connection with dragonflies and I started getting commissions.” Dragonflies are considered a talisman or sign of inner strength, a reminder of a loved one who has passed, and represent change or renewal.

Whatever the reason, Carr is happy to oblige. She paints her rendition of dragonflies on silk, completing the background first, then adding the body of the insect as an overlay. The wings are the final step. With Carr’s careful use of tints, they take on a transparency and appear to lift from the painting like magic, adding drama and beauty.

For art, for ponderance, or for scientific study, dragonflies capture the attention of many with their spectacular colours and charming elegance.

 

Attracting dragonflies to your yard

Dragonflies and damselflies eat mosquitos and are visually stunning, so inviting them to your yard is a blessing for you and them.

You don’t require a large pond to attract dragonflies, but be sure it has shallow edges and a center that is at least 60 cm deep. The depth keeps your pond from drying up and protects nymphs. The location needs several hours of daily sun and shelter from high winds. Do not add koi or goldfish as they may feed on nymphs.

Dragonflies lay their eggs in or near water, sometimes on the underside of leaves, making water plants essential. When ready to become adults, dragonfly nymphs climb stalks and stems out of the water and use plants as a platform for take off on their inaugural flight. Include both submerged plants like eelgrass and floating plants like water lilies.

Plants along the edge of your pond attract pollinators that become food for dragonflies. Some of the top picks include black-eyed susans, yarrow, and coneflowers.

Dragonflies like to sun themselves and the warmth of flat rocks provides the perfect setting. Rocks can also provide hiding spots for larvae. Choose light and dark rocks as they can attract different species of dragonflies.