PGF Leaf #23 - Dragonfly Traditional Cache
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Each of the geocaches in the PGF Leaf series will highlight an animal that can be found in the Starkey Wilderness Preserve. While searching for the PGF Leaf caches, and while hiking in any wilderness area, please remember ... this is the animal's home - you are merely a guest. Be respectful of natural communities, and leave nothing behind but footprints.
Cachers are invited to upload pictures they take of each animal subject - as long as the picture was actually taken within the boundaries of the Starkey Wilderness Park.
Dragonfly
Dragonflies are characterized by their two pairs of nearly transparent wings and a long slender body. They come in a wide variety of colors - almost 6,000 different species have been noted. Dragonflies, and their close cousins, the damselflies, are quite common in the Starkey Wilderness Preserve.
Dragonflies, like all insects, have 6 legs. When they land, the wings are held at an angle almost perpendicular to the body. This differentiates them from the damselflies - that usually hold their wings above their body. Dragonflies are the fastest flying of all insects, with some species able to fly at nearly 60 miles per hour.
Dragonflies can be found just about anywhere in Starkey Wilderness Preserve due to the prevalence of rivers, ponds, and swamps. Eggs are laid in or near water, often on floating plants or stalks of plants growing in the water. After hatching, the larva live in the water feeding on tiny invertebrates like mosquito larvae. Most of the dragonfly's life is spent in the larvae stage - from several months up to 3 years. When it is ready to metamorphose into an adult, the dragonfly climbs up a plant stalk out of the water, emerges from its larval skin and flies off. During the adult stage, it will eat small insects like mosquitoes and flies.
Dragonflies do not bite, and are harmless if they land on your skin. Since they are a voracious predator of mosquitos (some often referred to as "mosquito hawks" by Floridians), they are considered highly beneficial insects.
This cache was placed by a member of the PGF Leaf team and is maintained by the WestPascoEventTeam
The PGF Leaf Project is a geocaching series placed with the cooperation and permission of Pasco County Parks & Recreation Department, Pasco Department of Tourism, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
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Treasures
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