windy ramblings

The weather here in Colleyville has been up and down the past week.  For me this has been discouraging as I cannot go outside when the temperature drops below 60 degrees Farenheit due to a rare congenital condition called Fuckcoldweather.  I am not sure if the vast temperature fluctuations are confusing our little dragonfly buddies about when to emerge, but I do know that another component of weather, wind, could be doing us all harm.

As stated in a previous blog entry, after a dragonfly emerges and its wings harden, it becomes a juvenile.  These juveniles are not very strong fliers and often if you walk by a pond and startle one it may fly off before it really feels comfortable.  An unsuccessful first flight for a dragonfly can do tremendous damage to its self-esteem.  Doing something for the first time and feeling so awkward is something I am intimately familiar with so I can relate totally--how humiliating is it when you come out of the water for the first time, look around and puff up your wings, only to be scared by an approaching giant.  What do you do??  Think fast--use those new wing things!!  Bzz...bzzz.  But, your wings don't even make sounds, that was just for emphasis, to make it seem like flying.  Before you even know what your body is doing you are in the air, basically hang-gliding; you take off, get a little air and then go in the general direction of the wind and hope for a safe landing.  What a welcome to the terrestrial and aerial world....

Irreversible wing damage can be caused by wing-to-hard-object or wing-to-water contact. This dfly's damage may stem from another sort of emerging complication.  I will search for a photo that more likely displays damage by wind.

But to be serious, dragonflies don't emerge as adept fliers.  First flights aren't something that usually go on their resumes, as their destination is usually just defined as:  away from where I am now.  Strong winds can blow juveniles mercilessly into the ground, back into the water or even into a gumball machine.  Anything can happen with a gust of wind.  Part of the reason a juvenile is not yet a super-flier is because it's wings are still somewhat flaccid.  This is a twofer...two problems in one.  Soft wings will equate to poor, uncontrolled flight. Soft wings will also be twisted, torn or fused together when they are thrust by the wind into a tree branch or back into the water.  If the dragonfly's wings are damaged before they are fully hardened it is unlikely the dragonfly will ever be capable of impressing a potential mate with its flying acrobatics.  But the affected dragonfly probably won't have to even worry about mating because it most likely won't live through the day.  The objective of a dragonfly's first flight is to get out of the open and to shelter.  Awkward sporadic flight due to damaged wings will slow the insect down and draw the attention of birds and other predators.  If the dragonfly has been knocked in the water and is unable to fly it will most likely fall prey to spiders, water striders or other aquatic insects that will suck the fluids from its body.

So tell me, with this prognosis, where is the ugly yellow-colored rubber bracelet we can all donate $1 for to support the Anti-Windstrong Foundation?  I'm sure we can all rally and raise enough money to cure this world of wind, right??

As much as this is weighing on me lately, I realize I shouldn't worry.  Individual dragonflies will become damaged and that is tragic; my heart goes out to all families everywhere.  But dragonflies as a species have been living in windy cities for over 300 million years, what is one 2011 in the bag going to do?  The answer is, not a whole lot.  So, be cheery...and if see a little guy hurting, remember this:  peering down at a helpless doomed dragonfly is a great way to get an up-close look at some of natural selection's most heartbreaking work!!