The female of this species is the UK's longest dragonfly because of her long ovipositor. Golden-ringed dragonflies are voracious predators, feeding on large insects, such as damselflies, other dragonflies, wasps, beetles and bumblebees. They are fast, agile and powerful flyers.
Pidwerbesky explains that dragonflies and nymphs have quite different diets: Nymphs eat mainly aquatic insects, insect larvae and small crustaceans, but will also eat tadpoles and small fish. Adult dragonflies eat flies, butterflies, moths, beetles, wasps, bees, mosquitoes — and even other dragonflies.
Wasps do have there own predators in the UK. These include dragonflies, robber flies, hornets, centipedes, and spiders and from the feathered kingdom twenty four varieties of birds are known to eat wasps including blackbirds, magpies, starlings.
What do Dragonflies eat? Mainly, adult dragonflies eat other flying insects, particularly midges and mosquitoes. They also will take butterflies, moths and smaller dragonflies. There is one Asian species which takes spiders from their webs!
Often spotted darting across a stream or pond, these dazzling creatures are crucial bio-indicators of how healthy your local river, pond or water course is. Additionally, as predators, they control pests such as aphids both above and beneath the water, so heed this tips on how to attract dragonflies to your garden.
What Do Dragonflies Eat? Discover Their Carnivorous Diet and Hunting Skills!
Do UK dragonflies bite or sting?
Don't worry - they don't bite us. They're completely harmless, and actually helpful for humans, as they hunt the pesky insects that bother us. There are 57 species of Odonata in the UK: 36 dragonflies (Anisoptera) and 21 damselflies (Zygoptera).
Citrus - Citrus fruits like lemons and oranges can help deter wasps around your yard. Peppermint oil - Peppermint oil is one of the most effective essential oils for keeping wasps away. Citronella - Citronella oil is also effective, as it has a strong citrus smell that wasps do not like.
Care should be taken when they are found in these circumstances, as they may sting without warning. European hornets are largely carnivorous and hunt large insects such as beetles, wasps, large moths, dragonflies, and mantises.
Dragonflies are not considered a dangerous or aggressive insect towards humans but can be a nuisance when there is an infestation. They are known to be "beneficial insects" in that they eat other insects that may harm your vegetables or garden as well as eating mosquitoes.
Wasps inside the nest will feel threatened and often become aggressive. This could cause them to sting you and others as they defend their nest resulting in multiple stings. Unlike bees, wasps do not die after one sting, they can, and will, sting you quite a few times!
The combination of a long, almost prehensile tail and a perennial confusion between biting and stinging continually clouds the issue. But dragonflies don't have a sting and so they certainly can't sting you or anything else - all their hunting is done using their mouths.
Certain aromatic plants will deter wasps from flying around your garden. "Wasp-repellant plants like mint, citronella, thyme, eucalyptus and wormwood will help ward off any wasps from your property," says McHale.
Underwater, aquatic plants, grasses and roots provide excellent cover to sleep among. On the land, dragonflies will sleep tucked away in bushes or under leaves, or sometimes more out in plain sight, if they feel sufficiently camouflaged. Dragonflies do sleep. Dragonflies also don't carry diseases or germs!
Dragonflies are insects. They have three stages in their life cycle: egg - larva - adult. Adult dragonflies have a long and slender abdomen, two pairs of wings and three pairs of legs.
They are often associated with snakes, as in the Welsh name gwas-y-neidr, "adder's servant". The Southern United States terms "snake doctor" and "snake feeder" refer to a folk belief that dragonflies catch insects for snakes or follow snakes around and stitch them back together if they are injured.
Dragonflies eat lots of mosquitoes. Dragonflies prefer to live near ponds but will hang out near any body of water. You can attract dragonflies by installing a pond filled with plants. Dragonflies do not bite or sting people.
Fish, frogs, newts, and other larger aquatic creatures eat the dragonfly nymphs. Adult dragonflies are food for birds, lizards, bats, and even spiders!
Dragonflies are most numerous during the summer. However, certain species come out earlier; some can be seen only in the spring, their flight seasons starting in late April or early May, and finished by mid-June.
Not only do dragonflies control mosquito populations – they help control other bugs, too, like midges. Attracting dragonflies to your garden and backyard requires planting a diverse array of plants. Planting trees and shrubs around the perimeter of the yard will provide adequate hiding spots for young dragonflies.
What scent or smell keeps wasps away? Wasps have a strong sense of smell and dislike certain plants like peppermint, spearmint, basil, eucalyptus, cloves, geranium, thyme, citronella, bay leaves, and lemongrass. Vinegar, cinnamon, coffee grounds, and sliced cucumber also repel them.
Also, despite the wasp's clear warning in the form of its yellow and black stripes, a danger-sign in nature, other smaller birds are also happy to risk eating wasps, notably blackbirds, magpies and starlings.
They normally get angry when they feel threatened. It could be your constant waving of arms when you try to get rid of them. These actions make them feel threatened hence making them angry. Once wasps get angry, their defence mechanism releases pheromones that signal other wasps in the colony.
