Red Dragonfly on Bronze Butterfly

by Wild Thing

Title

Red Dragonfly on Bronze Butterfly

Artist

Wild Thing

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

I have always loved the dragonfly. Though how it got it's name is debated widely. There is one folktale about it being called the Devil's needle that would sew children's lips together if they told a lie! How awful! I used to see so many dragonflies as a child and have found out that due to diminishing wetlands, we are seeing a decrease in our dragonfly population. Another reason to protect our wetlands! These beautiful creatures must not be lost!

A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata, suborder Anisoptera (from Greek ανισος anisos "uneven" + πτερος pteros, "wings", because the hindwing is broader than the forewing). Adult dragonflies are characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches, and an elongated body. Many dragonflies have brilliant iridescent or metallic colours produced by structural coloration, making them conspicuous in flight. An adult dragonfly eye has nearly 24,000 ommatidia.

Fossils of very large dragonfly ancestors in the Protodonata are found from 325�million years ago in Upper Carboniferous rocks; these had wingspans of up to about 750�mm (30�in). There are about 3000 species of Anisoptera in the world today. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions.

Dragonflies are represented in human culture on artefacts such as pottery, rock paintings and Art Nouveau jewellery. They are used in traditional medicine in Japan and China, and caught for food in Indonesia. They are symbols of courage, strength and happiness in Japan, but seen as sinister in European folklore. Their bright colours and agile flight are admired in the poetry of Alfred, Lord Tennyson and the prose of H. E. Bates.

Symbolism:
Maturity & Depth of Character... The dragonfly, in almost every part of the world symbolizes change and change in the perspective of self realization; and the kind of change that has its source in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life.

The traditional association of Dragonflies with water also gives rise to this meaning to this amazing insect. The Dragonfly�s scurrying flight across water represents an act of going beyond what�s on the surface and looking into the deeper implications and aspects of life.

It shows how to get through the illusion on the path to new worlds.

Uploaded

August 14th, 2015

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Viewed 610 Times  -  Last Visitor from Cambridge, MA on 04/25/2024 at 10:54 PM

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