Dragonflies have to eat too, but I was a little shocked when I stumbled upon this Needham’s Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula needhami) munching on a ladybug or two yesterday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Woodbridge, Virginia. Although I know that dragonflies are fearsome predators, I guess that I am not used to thinking of ladybugs as prey—they are usually depicted as cute, which is why they are seen so often on children’s clothing and furnishings.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
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I agree, Mike, but it is always unsettling when we see it happen. Like the hawk swooping down a grabbing one of my feeding birds. I cringe, but also know the hawk or dragonfly need to eat.
I know the circle is always in play, but I’m not a fan of seeing it up close.
Well, if you’d like to balance things out, I have a great shot of two ladybugs eating aphids. Around and around it goes — and that plump little dragonfly might find its own way into the food chain soon.