How to Handle a Live Dragonfly
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- Опубликовано: 9 июл 2024
- In this video we teach you how to handle a live dragonfly in a way that keeps you and the dragonfly safe. This technique was adapted from an expert at Texas A&M University. Dragonflies are awesome and being able to hold them to show off to people is an important skill. It is also important to protect the dragonfly so you can release them or keep them preserved for your insect collection. This video teaches you how to do this technique so you can handle them for educational or research purposes.
Sponsored by the University of Idaho Extension.
Special Thanks to Texas AM University Entomology Department and John Oswald.
Music by Epikus
/ @epÏkus.musÏc
A huge dragon fly came into our home and up to the second floor- trapping itself. All of our windows have built in mosquito screens, so we couldnt really let it out. My mom and brothers were really scared lol. But I found your video, and luckily I was able to catch it and release it back into the outdoors.
Thanks so much for your clear and helpful video!
Thanks for the video! The first time I tried handling a dragonfly it bit my finger lol. Now I know better
Miyagishima Farms that’s right thanks for sharing your experience. I hope it works better for you next time too!
Lol I deliberately got bit by one to see if it hurt lol.
how did it feel?
No pain just like a bite from a big ant or a light crayfish pinch.
yeah that's about how it has felt to me too, but others have described it more painfully I guess it could vary by species.
So appreciate this demonstration in keeping the dragonflies safe during handling. With six grandkids, your advice will help more than just me in this family! Thank you for sharing with us.
Glad you found it so helpful. I am always open to learn. It's a big thanks to the great community and following I have which helps me learn more all the time. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Just caught a Green Darner that was flying around in my yard! Was able to modify the “Total Fold” method on the fly when my guy politely folded his wings for me in the net and I had him lying sideways!
Once I came back with my phone camera, I had him sit on the ground (he opened his wings again) to make sure I didn’t injure him and let him open his wings. Was able to place my hand near him and take a picture, then I let him climb onto my hand (He didn’t bite me thankfully, which i’m glad of; he was huge!) and I took more pictures!
Gorgeous specimen, and I’m so glad I got to see his beautiful wings! Found this video while looking up the Do’s and Don’ts of Dragonfly Catch-and-Release, love your channel!
That's how I've bean doing it. Once when I tried netting a dragon fly I accidently whacked its head off. Then so it wouldn't go to waist I fed it to my clawed frog.
Same except I knocked it's abdomen off
This was awesome mate! I'm collecting data this year and it will involve alot of handling. The care of these beautiful creatures is super important to me so this video was a great little intro.
Thank you so much for this video! My seven-year-old ran inside to tell me a dragonfly got stuck in the netting surrounding our trampoline a little bit ago. I found your video, watched the hold a few times & was able to handle it properly and carefully pull the dragonfly free without damaging its wings!
I typically bare-handed catch. The way I do it is to carefully sneak up, then clap them with cupped hands (so as not to damage the wings). Then I maneuver them inside my hands to get their legs, and hold them by their legs. That way I don't really touch their wings at all
The wings are actually more flexible then you think as long as they are not twisted or folded in half or something like that. I would think catching them with bare hands vs a net is more likely to break the wings since there is less space. I would suggest at least trying this out sometime. I was worried about hurting the wings too like you until I tried it myself after getting some advice.
God's creations are all precious. I love learning about all of them.
Thanks. that is so cool
Awesome!!
"Tip: Use your tongue to help focus" lol
that was an honestly subconscious response. I had no clue until I watched the footage! :)
When summer time comes the worst enemies mosquitoes have are Dragonflies!
They can eat a lot I am sure!
Thanks, Jason 😄😄
Great video insect hunter!
Lawrence Bassett thanks!
Very cool
Great video. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
a nice video very instructive i might try that out next summer here in the UK if i can catch them sitting still long enough .
Raymond Kilminster I hope it works for you! Let me know how it goes.
I want to know how to handle a moth..want to start collect in malaysia..i start with butterfly junonia atlites...grey pansy and i dont know how to handle a moth hope u can guide me from catch and sorage that specimen
Realy help full!! Thanks, I just started study technical biologie!!
So i am learning to becom a environmental researcher
I mean nature researcher
awesome!
Awesome! It is a blast. Did I ever tell you the joke about the zoologist? Oh well I am telling you anyways. What do you call a zoologist with a job? An Entomologist. For real though if you want to study animals and get paid for it insects are the real deal because there are a lot of jobs in it out there!
@@InsectHunter i agrea there is soooo much work in and i realt enjoy it!!
How to hold and capture photo of wings?
Thanks for the advice! You are absolutely a expert that can take criticism. Which i admire you for that😮. And you really know you're insects! I love that! Like i said before keep it up My dude!! Also what id like you to handle is a Hercules beetle (if you find any)😃 that would make my day! Keep it up you're amazing bye!
Thanks your comment just made my day! :) I will see what I can do with Hercules beetles. Up here in Idaho its too cold and not the right conditions for them... If I ever find one you know I will be filming an interaction with it.
@@InsectHunter thats great! If you don't find one don't worry about it. you could find it another time. Also YOU made MY day by responding and being active in your community! Thats a awsome thing to do! Your crushing it! Good job Keep going!!😄👍
@@InsectHunter Do you know anything about caring for a Dragonfly, she crashed into the beach after mating it seems and she's mostly just tired and needs food and water.
I already know how feed/water her, but I'm not aware of how they sleep and rest. It took her some hours to move her legs again from the exhaustion. Her tail still moves a lot with an occasion twitch from her wings. She still eats and drinks however.
Nice video 😘
Thanks!
I train him too i set him a good leaf house but he flying back on my leg
Hey there!! I've been trying to collect ladybugs for my collection but I can't seem to find any. Do you have any ideas where they might be commonly found?
peanutbuttermotherchucker yes
so, when he cought the dragonfly why was it trying to sting him with it tail? i thought dragonflies only bite
Hello! I recently stumbled across these red winged dragonflies and it has inspired me to start making an insect collection! Your videos have helped me a lot with how to handle dragonflies and the equipment I would need. However, I do have some questions and it would be great if you could make a video on it or just answer them really quickly! My main question is basically the entire process and basically confirming some things or if there is anything else I should know or do. From catching the dragonfly, putting it in a kill jar, to pinning and spreading it, should I preserve it in the freezer after putting it in a kill jar before pinning it and if so, for how long? Or should i start pinning and spreading it right after it gets knocked out in the kill jar? These videos have helped a lot and keep up the good work!
hey IH I just watched another video about handling a butterfly, and the guy said that the "half-hold" has a high chance of damaging the muscles the butterfly uses to flap its wings. Would you say that a butterfly could be handled the same way as you show here with a dragonfly, or do you recommend a different technique for butterflies?
I'm asking because I just started going out to catch Insects, I used this technique on both a dragonfly and a butterfly but unfortunately, the butterfly was unable to fly after I had handled it. I feel really bad about that and I just want to make sure I'm doing things right before I go back out to hunt some more, thanks for all the great videos
Butterflies and moths have scales on their wings. So do not hold the wings at all as the scales come off which is probably what happened to yours.
Yes what Ron said. There is no great way to handle a butterfly. If you want to hold it catch it, put it in a jar then stick in freezer for maybe 45 seconds. Pull it out and it will slowly warm up and then walk around on you then likely fly away.
A large sturdy butterfly can be quickly nabbed (gently) between your 2nd and 3rd fingers when its wings are folded. Very little pressure is needed. Wings are rigid and ribs protect it. I caught a huge monarch this way. He didn't struggle since the wings were immobilized. We let him go and off he went back to where I caught it.
Hey Thomas this is Macias Martinez
Call me right now , not in Houston, Texas
How can we give a treatment for a injured dragonfly if it is hearted strongly with a stick
Once damaged there is no way for exoskeletons to repair themselves except in very young insects that still molt then sometimes limbs and parts can be repaired, but there isn't much you can do.
A dragonfly is stuck in my trampoline netting! I don’t know how to get to out!
Exactly how I hold them, I think I read it in a books when I was a kid. I would love to see you catch a Cicada Killer.
Oh man yeah I would love to find one of those again! I used to see them in Indiana when I was living out there, but haven't seen any here in Idaho.
Had one flying around in my front yard a few weeks ago, but I couldn't get to my net before it flew off.
KentuckyFriedGamers yeah it’s kind of nerdy, but many people always have their nets with them for these cases.
I usually do, but I was getting some milkweed for the monarchs we were raising to tag and release. It was only 10 feet away.
KentuckyFriedGamers yeah you never know when you will see that insect you have always been looking for.
I rescued a dragon fly that was being attacked by a wasp...it seems to have no energy but it does move slowley...how can i look after it ? And will it recover?
Probably not going to recover especially if any wing damages has occurred. Sorry for the super later response.
do you have a how to handle video on spiders?
No, but it's something I plan on doing soon. Stay subscribed and I will hopefully have one soon.
I don't think I have much time it's a young guy can fly little but I'm trying to save him I put bread he said elevator plant and a piece of corn what else can I do please help me help him
He is not flying he is moving
My son and I have a belief between each other's my son passed away 11 years ago and this little dragonfly needs help please help me help this little fella he has breath in him he's moving
Alovera plant i put him on it
Harm to yourself ?
ARE YOU MAD !
I coax dragonflies onto my finger with great care not to injure their legs
They chew on my fingertips
THEY ARE MY FRIENDS
FOR REAL ...
Got one on my finger now, idk what I'm doin lol 😆
💖
Please show us how to handle a Crane fly pleaseeee
I had found one on 4/16/20
I had a dragonfly I hurt being hitting it with my car so had it with me for the rest of the day and it just hanged out on my finger didn't bite either think they also are domesticatible but only live for about 2 months after their nymph stage
I have never tried, but it would be hard to keep an adult in captivity. It would need a huge cage and constant supply of flying insects.
@@InsectHunter its more disabled dragonflies that show any companion ship others are more just flying to your finger thinking its like a branch possible as a nymph but you would need a water bucket in a dark spot for mosquito larvae and a adult could need hundreds a day meaning a enclosure would be full of mosquitos for the dragonfly to eat so would be quite a hard pet to keep just think they have higher chances of being freindly then say a wasp
@@beastebeat4956 yeah more friendly than a wasp no doubt. They aren't aggressive towards humans or animals in general other than small insects. The juveniles are definitely something that could be raised.
I caught a really large dragonfly yesterday
I heard from my colleagues that this pinse hold is a little bit stronger than if you'd hold with with the index and middle fingers, like in a scissors move...
ha ha I am not sure.
@@InsectHunter me neither, haha!
Had I known this when I was making my insect collection, I wouldn't have lost so many specimens.
CaesarGamer yeah sorry I couldn’t teach you sooner! Next time try it out and hopefully you will have better success.
Please make a real how to handle a gigantic dragonfly because I just found one please send help
Ihave 6 dragonfly now😂 idont have net so i catch them using my hands😅 idunno why hahha but yah i can catch 5 of them just using my hands
You are just extremely skilled and your ninja training paid off.
Would love to see you collect a milkweed beetle
unfortunately this is not the right way to handle Anisoptera, this way the individuum can be seriously hurt.
Anisopteras are not capable of folding the wings together. But Zygoptera are and for them, it is legitimate to hold them like demonstrated. Anisoptera should only be held on the thorax or legs, it is also possible to hold on to one side of the wings between the thumb and index finger.
A differentiation between these two groups of dragonflies is essential for handling the specimen correctly.
Sir here In kerala in india lots of dragon flies are there but dragon flies are disappearing by climate change. In olden days lots of dragon flies but today nothing is seen 😢😢super video sir . Can you reply sir
Sr
I have a dragonfly
Dung Beatle. Just Kidding.
how to catch moths
Yes more videos about that will be coming. I did do one on humming bird moths.
spiders
A toebiter video.?
U r like me
You love insects too!
@@InsectHunter yup!
Nothing catches my interest like an insect. I hope to study entomology
@@silverfox9004 Yes entomology is awesome! It's how I got a job doing what I love!
What kinds of jobs can an entomologist do?
I already know that since i was 4
Awesome then you are ahead of me in one area. I am still learning about insects every single day! That is why they are so awesome!
Be careful not to damage the ovipositor when it was a female
Totally wrong! I have seen supposed dragonfly biologists do this in the field, and half the time, when you hold the wings against each other like that, the wings stick, and the dragonfly is fatally damaged. Oddly enough, actual wildlife biologists tend to care the least about health of an individual specimen of any animal. What I do with 99% success is hold down the dragonfly with my hand over the net, put my other hand in the net and underneath the insect with my middle finger under its body (fingernail up, so the don't bite me), then pin its legs between my fingers. For smaller ones, it always works to hold them by the legs.
Again, the wings are the WORST place to hold ANY insect, especially dragonflies and butterflies.