A dragonfly feasting on another dragonfly

“Dragonflies are fascinating insects that have existed even before the dinosaurs. They are biting insects, unlike moths and butterflies which have tube-like mouthparts for sucking nectar from flowers.

“Dragonflies and damselflies are predators. As such, their mouth parts are also adapted for biting and holding on to their prey. Almost any insects small enough can be their prey, even their own kinds are fair game.

“This Variegated Green Skimmer (Orthetrum Sabina), a strong and fast flyer, caught another dragonfly, a female. It was seen chewing the victim head-first with its powerful mandibles.

K C Tsang
Singapore
31st January /2015