Louise's Utopia: Coteau Ace

Have you ever been out for a relaxing stroll in the evening only to be swarmed by a massive aerial army of bugs? Your walk goes sour and you rush home with grit in your teeth, hoping that your eyes are not full of bug eggs. Well, it is gross and it has happened a time or two or three to me, especially while out for a jog. But this week at Coteau Valley Farm I had a similar experience, only this time it was wonderful! As I walked what seemed to be thousands of dragonflies filled the air around me. The sky came alive with the most wonderful acrobatics I've ever seen. As they dipped and dived they devoured a large swarm of unsuspecting bugs that seemingly disappeared into their tiny little mouths. Putting on a display of hunting prowess that would cause the envy of any predator on earth! Little did I know that the dragonfly is the fiercest most efficient hunter in the sky, and in the world. For over 320 million years these fierce fighters have dominated the hunting world and are nearly 100% efficient in killing their prey, compared to a hawk which has around 23% efficiency, this is no small feat and a giant gap. Having the uncanny ability to independently move their bodies in any direction up, down, left, right, forward, and even backward, they rule flight. Equipped with vision that literally sees all, 360-degrees of compound eyes with 30,000 facets, they basically have thousands of tiny telescopes in their eyes. These telescopes send almost instantaneous messages to their brains which enable, unheard-of flight control. Watching them fly was literally the most fascinating show of bugs that I've ever seen. I was enchanted and smiled as they flew all around my head, having a massive feast before my eyes. I was also happy to see how many there were in the sky and blessed that they were eating all those mosquitos. In the past, having seen one or two of these flying beauties I did not have the respect I now have gained for these formidable large swarm of insects. I was literally entranced by their beauty and their splendid show of flight and hunting ability. I was also pleased that I was able to find so much information on them and find that they are fascinating, even their larvae which grow underwater are famed hunters. Dragonflies can eat up to 100 mosquitoes a day. How? That blows my mind. Look at them they are only two to five inches in size much smaller than their original size 320 million years ago, of up to two feet! I am thoroughly intrigued and have a newfound love for these tiny beauties of the sky. The next time you see a dragonfly step back, take a breath, and marvel because these little gems are diamonds in the ruff. It is well worth any time you invest in finding out more about these insects and with over 3000 species of dragonflies on the earth I am sure you will find at least one that fascinates you. It reminds me of the quote by Henry David Thoreau, "At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be infinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature." That's true because nature shows us the genius of God and we will never grow dull of learning about all of his creation, not ever. Let me know what you think of them and any information you find to be entirely too entertaining.

Coteau des Prairies South Dakota Hobby Farm