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White-Faced Meadowhawk

One Cool Dragonfly

A White-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum) dragonfly, in the bog at Distant Hill.
A White-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly in the Obelisk posture in the bog on Distant Hill.

Have you ever noticed that some Dragonflies point their tails up into the air at times, and wondered why? Well, a number of scientists have given it some thought, and have designed some experiments to answer the question. The research points to dragonflies attempting to cool off.

 

It has been dubbed "The obelisk posture" and has been observed in about 30 species of Dragonflies and Damselflies. A few species lower their tails instead of raising them, but for the same purpose - to keep cool.

More Amazing Dragonfly Facts

  • A dragonfly can spot an insect moving 33 feet away.
  • Dragonflies have six legs but cannot walk.
  • A Dragonfly called the Globe Skimmer is thought to have the longest migration of any insect - 11,000 miles back and forth across the Indian Ocean. 

Check this link for even more amazing 'Dragonfly Facts' from a past blog.