Dragonflies

We decided to learn more about dragonflies as Thursley is home to 26 different species of dragonflies and damselflies. It was designated a dragonfly hotspot in 2019 but unfortunately this Spring's fire caused substantial damage to the habitat as well as the popular Dragonfly boardwalk. We now know how to distinguish between dragonflies and damselflies (most easily the dragonflies rest with their wings open, and are larger and faster than damselflies). We also learned they've been around since the dinosaurs and are one of the most efficient carnivorous predators on the planet with a 95% success rate in hunting! We also felt a little sad to learn that although the nymphs live for 3 years in the water, adults only live for a month. The kids created lovely lapbooks with all their facts they learned.