My first memory of a dragonfly came when I was about six years old. As the oldest grandchild, I accompanied my uncle, who was nine years older, when he took the wheelbarrow down to the artesian spring to retrieve the watermelons Papaw had placed there for the ritual afternoon cutting on the long front porch. As we crossed the wooden bridge over the creek, a couple of dragonflies flew in front of us. In his most serious cautionary voice, Uncle Erskine said, “Now, Virginia Ann, you need to be careful. Those are snake doctors. Any time you see one, a snake is nearby.”
Rightfully terrified, I crept through the middle of the bridge, going and coming, keeping an ever-watchful eye out for the snakes. I’m not sure how old I was when I became mistrustful of believing every single thing this beloved uncle told me. At some point, I realized a dragonfly was a flying insect with no power over snakes.
I’ve become very fond of these insects in the nearly three years since we moved to this place in the country on the edge of a bog with a creek running through. I’ve also learned a few things Uncle Erskine never told me about dragonflies. The first came from my expectation of battling mosquitoes in these surroundings. We have seen few and hardly ever been bitten – thanks to these dragonflies whose pictures I’ve taken here.
They have nearly 360° vision with only one blind spot directly behind them. They may fly up to 11,000 miles. The best part is that they may eat their body weight in a day. That’s a lot of mosquitoes! As you can see, they come in many varieties from the one that makes me think of a signal flag on a ship, to the ones whose wings are almost transparent and invisible to the contrasting blue topper for my red snapdragons. My very favorite was the day I discovered this dragonfly eating a wasp. Many thanks!
As it turns out, Uncle Erskine is not the only one who has given dragonflies special powers. Some think you can make a wish if you find one, and it will come true. Others place a spiritual power with the dragonfly as a communicator with the spirit world. I’m completely satisfied just knowing that they eat pests and look beautiful.
