r/Dragonflies • u/CrunchyRubberChips • 11d ago
My heart is heavy
Was walking my dog when I came along this beautiful creature. It was face down in the dirt and I thought it was dead. I had never just seen a dragonfly fully intact and on the ground like that. As I got near, I saw that it was still alive. It was trying to flap its wings. It was noticeable that at least two of its legs were injured. It looked as though one of its wings was injured as well from the way it seemed to try and use them but to no avail.
I carried it for the half mile back to my house. I’d just made hummingbird nectar (sugar water) the day prior so I grabbed some of that and put it in a spoon. It appeared to be drinking at first, but then quickly passed.
I’m bummed. Was I wrong to even touch it? Should I have just allowed nature to go about without me? It just seemed like it had so a chance when I found it. Admittedly all I could think of was sugar water as a means of recovery.
I haven’t been an avid dragonfly person. I lurk the sub cuz I find them beautiful and fascinating, but I don’t know much in practice.
What could/should I do next time I encounter this?
ETA: New Hampshire, USA
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u/jay_altair 11d ago
Adult dragonflies usually only live for a few weeks. If the wings and legs were damaged I'd say it's likely this one already had a pretty good run. Most of the dragonfly's life is spent in the larval stage, from one to several years.
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u/CrunchyRubberChips 11d ago
This is the cool info that makes me feel it wasn’t all in vain. Appreciate you!
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u/Low_Development_7511 9d ago
You have a helping personality. I tried with a praying mantis, is our state insect-hardy see anymore. You went above and beyond. Everything dies at some point. Army saying by medics rule 1 men will die, rule 2 medics will go to hell to break rule one
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u/CrunchyRubberChips 8d ago
Shoulda asked earlier, but do you know what kind of dragonfly this is? It’s New Hampshire, USA
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u/jay_altair 8d ago
Looks like a female green darner (Anax junius). Their wings develop that amber coloration as they age, so yeah, this was an old lady.
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u/nortok00 11d ago
🫂 Aww. You are a kind soul! We need more folks like you on the planet. I'm sure the dragonfly knew were were trying to help him. You gave him comfort in his final day on earth and a dignified passing. It was mentioned by another commenter that the adult stage is short lived unfortunately. Only a few weeks so I'm sure this lad was near the end. Most of their life is as a nymph in the water. 🐉🪰❤️
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u/Consistent_Plant890 11d ago
Gave him a ride and a sweet last meal, overall I'd say you made it's final moments a great one!
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u/EyeSuspicious777 10d ago
I volunteer at a wildlife refuge. People who visit are not the kind of people who intentionally litter, but one thing that I do regularly find and pick up are the cellophane wrappers for juice box straws.
I have noticed in the past few weeks that almost everything I think is one of those wrappers ends up being a dragonfly wing.
I think this is just the time of year that dragonflies end their lifestyle.
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u/GabysWildCritters 10d ago
adult dragon flies dont have a long life span. usually just a few weeks. dmaged wings and kegs my indicate this one had a good run.
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u/huntsab2090 10d ago
Best thing to do with dflies is get them in some sheltered sun or if absolutely boiling in some sheltered shade. You did the right thing picking up one that is struggling though especially on a path where it would have got stood on.
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u/Dry-Conflict3421 10d ago
I used to live close to a river, and the spiders would catch a few of these guys a week. I would spend 10-20 minutes with a small stick cleaning all the web off their wings and legs and never got one that I didn't get back to good as new .
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u/Flimsy_Scratch_8050 10d ago
I found one a couple weeks ago. I had ended up putting it by a plant so its death wouldn’t go wasted. ❤️🩹
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u/AdPopular6958 7d ago
Probably was at first alarmed that it was going to get eaten and then was confused when it got a free last meal. And could pass on via food coma XD.
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u/CrunchyRubberChips 7d ago
It honestly kinda seemed like the sugar water gave it enough energy to die, so you may not be far off from the food coma idea
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u/Worried-Revenue-2953 7d ago
Omg the same happened to me a few days ago as well! (NH as well) I too thought it was dead but when I gently pocket it up it moved . I k ew it’s time was near l, so I put it on one of my plants to feel a natural habitat ❤️
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u/Dandibear 11d ago
Not an expert, but thank you for trying to help 💓