Nature gives dragonflies the most powerful weapon to improve performance every hunt. When considering the most successful predators in nature, many people may think of large and agile things, such as cheetahs or cats. However, according to the numbers, cheetahs—the fastest terres

Nature gives dragonflies the most powerful weapon to improve the performance of each hunt.

When considering the most successful predators in nature, many people may think of large and agile things, such as cheetahs or cats. However, according to the numbers, cheetahs—the fastest terrestrial animal—can only capture prey with success rates of 20% to 30%. So what are the most successful predators on Earth? In fact, you may still see them every day, especially before it rains.

is the dragonfly you chased when you were a child, this colorful creature with compound eyes and two pairs of wings. Although they may appear small, in the wild, dragonflies are not prey at all. Instead, these creatures are one of the most successful predators on Earth, with a accuracy rate of about 95% when hunting. This is more successful than any other creature on Earth, according to a report from the Williston Conservation Trust.

Most of their success lies in the unique adaptability they accumulate during their development, including vision and flight aspects. However, they are not natural enemies, as dragonflies spend most of their time in larval stages or in pupae.

Dragonfly pupa develops in water for 2-3 months to 1 or 2 years, depending on the species. During this time, pupae prey on anything they can catch, such as other insects, worms, crustaceans, snails, tadpoles, and even larvae of small fish. To capture prey, the dragonfly pupa has developed a unique, stretchable articulated jaw or labia that can ejaculate faster than most prey can react. In fact, the dragonfly hunts in a pupate hunting process is like the creepy shot of a fearful alien creature in the movie Alien.

Dragonfly catches prey.

To keep up with their prey and avoid being hunted, dragonfly pupa uses a unique way of movement called jet propulsion. No other insect species use this migration strategy. The pupa will absorb water from the anal valve, and also breathe from there, and push the water out of the anal valve to push the body forward. This type of tricuspid valve is structurally similar to a human tricuspid valve, and it even inspired the researchers to design an artificial heart valve.

As they develop, dragonfly pupae will molt 5 to 14 times until they are fully mature. By the time they reach their last molt, the pupa is ready to be in shallow water, switching from the water to the air breath. They then float out of the water, climb to higher vegetation near streams or coasts, looking for a vantage point to start their final transformation. Here they will pump and redistribute body fluids, slowly pushing them out of the larval skin. After spawning, they leave an empty skin.

dragonfly has the ability to control two pairs of wings working independently. After the wonderful debut of

, the dragonfly will fly for the first time. Because they are still weak, dragonflies tend to have short first flights, which is also when they are particularly vulnerable to other predators. But when the body and wings become hard, they will officially reach the peak of hunting performance. Once fully developed, the dragonfly will take over the sky as a flying master. Thanks to independent control of the front and rear wings, this insect is extremely maneuverable and can easily glide and change the direction of flight in any direction, including backward or stationary.

In addition to flying skills, dragonflies are also equipped with the same agile nervous system. They have the ability to fix their prey and predict their future location. In this way, they can intercept prey in mid-air with extreme precision. This ability complements the impressive vision of relaxation. Each dragonfly's eyes consist of thousands of units called small eyes that span most of its head. Therefore, the creature has a nearly 360-degree field of view, except for a small blind spot directly behind. Its unique vision can also serve as a model, and many researchers are seeking to imitate to develop artificial eyes.

Dragonfly's eyes are also a miracle of nature.

As the muse of science fiction and medical inventions, these precision predators still perform excellent hunting performances in their territories. In the future, you may find some other terrifying creatures with a high hunting rate like them, but at the moment, the crown is still on the small heads of these small animals.