Photography, Nature, Insects
Dragonfly on a Stick
The truth behind the wings
My son found a dragonfly on a twig at the lake. I quickly retrieved my camera to snap some photos to capture the moment before it flew away. He picked up the stick, inspected the dragonfly, waved it around like a magic wand — but it didn’t fly away.
A Google search on my phone told me that if dragonflies fall into the water and get their wings wet, it prevents them from flying. They need to dry out their wings before they can fly away. To protect themselves during rain showers, they find shelter under leaves or branches.
Dragonflies are incredible fliers. They can fly directly up and down, hover, and mate mid-air. If they can’t fly, they’ll starve because they only eat prey they capture (which they grab with their feet) while flying.
Embracing our newfound knowledge, we poked two leaves over the end of the twig to build an umbrella for the dragonfly (above), just in case it rained. We both wondered how long the delicate wings would take to dry out.
We splashed, played at the lake, sunbathed, and had a snack. When it was time for us to go, the dragonfly disappeared and the twig remained. My son picked it up, waved the wand in the air, and smiled. We walked away — awed by the fragility and simplicity of nature’s magic.
About the Author
Mary Chang is an award-winning short story fiction writer, memoir writer, and blogger. She’s also a parent, fitness enthusiast, and loves the magic of nature. Fueled by cartwheels, laughter, and encouraging others to shine. Read her blog at www.marychangstorywriter.com.
Her writing is inspired by exercise, life lessons, parenting, writing, humor, and people. You can read her most popular Medium stories below.
