What does "dragonfly skimming the water" mean? Let us take you through the reasons behind it

Dragonflies are the collective name for insects in the order Odonata, families Libellulidae and Aeshnidae. Adults generally fly over ponds or rivers hunting flying insects, while the larvae (nymphs) develop in water. We can often see dragonflies flying low over the water surface, dipping down to touch the water from time to time. So what does "dragonfly skimming the water" mean? Why do dragonflies skim the water?

1. The allusion and meaning of "dragonfly skimming the water"

Allusion: During the reign of Emperor Suzong of Tang, Li Heng, Du Fu became an eighth-rank remonstrance official known as "Left Reminder." Because he spoke up for a minister who should not have been punished, Li Heng distanced himself from him. Deeply depressed, he went to the banks of the Qujiang River to write poetry and ease his mind. In his "Two Poems on the Qujiang River" he wrote: "Through the flowers butterflies are seen deep within, skimming the water dragonflies fly slowly; I send word to the spring light to linger together, enjoy it for a while and do not part."

Meaning: "Dragonfly skimming the water" refers to the action of a dragonfly lightly touching the water surface with its tail as it flies over it. It is a metaphor for doing things superficially and without depth. "Dragonfly skimming the water" and "gazing at flowers while riding a horse" can both describe work or life experience that is not thorough, and they are often interchangeable. However, the emphasis of the former lies in "skimming," meaning doing things "in a flash" and "without depth or persistence," while "gazing at flowers while riding a horse" emphasizes "looking."

2. Why do dragonflies skim the water

A dragonfly skimming the water is a female dragonfly laying eggs. Dragonflies usually lay eggs on aquatic plants in small rivers and ponds. After the eggs are laid, the larvae that hatch on the aquatic plants are called "water caltrops" (naiads). The naiads must spend a long time crawling in the water, at least 1 year and at most 7-8 years, before they can emerge as adult dragonflies. After emerging, the short, fat abdomen becomes increasingly slender, and the originally folded wings unfold one by one, finally becoming a dragonfly like a tiny airplane. It can be seen that "dragonfly skimming the water" is a natural part of a dragonfly's life -- laying eggs to reproduce.

3. What do dragonfly larvae eat

Dragonfly larvae are called naiads. When dragonfly eggs first hatch, they have a special form: the six legs and head are all contracted against the body, like a little shrimp without legs. This stage is called the "pronymph stage." The pronymph stage is very short, at least 3-5 seconds and at most 2-3 minutes. Then the back of the pronymph splits open, and the first-instar nymph molts and emerges. Dragonfly larvae have different instars depending on the species. Generally, the younger the dragonfly larva, the lighter its body color. The time required for the entire larval stage varies by species and season, ranging from one month to three or four years. To avoid natural enemies and catch prey, dragonfly larvae have body colors very close to their environment. Those inhabiting streams feed mainly on mayfly nymphs, stonefly nymphs, chironomids and other dipteran larvae, as well as some small fish. Species inhabiting still waters feed mainly on tadpoles, small shrimp, small fish, water fleas, smaller dragonfly nymphs, backswimmers, mosquito larvae, chironomids and other dipteran larvae. The natural enemies of dragonfly larvae are birds, large omnivorous fish, water scorpions, giant water bugs, diving beetles, and the like.

The above is Tuliuwang's introduction to "dragonfly skimming the water." Whether adults or larvae, dragonflies are carnivorous and mostly eat pests. In addition to being able to prey on large numbers of mosquitoes and flies, adults can also prey on butterflies, moths, bees and other pests.