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Some
things to look out for at the Pond
Dragonflies and damselflies
are some of Britain's most beautiful insects. But they are
not just beautiful - they are also ferocious hunters. They
eat other insects -
In the past people thought that dragonflies attacked even
bigger animals - this is why they were given names such as
"devil's darning needle" and "horse stinger". But they were
probably just catching the flies that were worrying the
horses.
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| You will find
many species of dragonfly in this country, but
basically there are two types of dragonfly - the
darters and the hawkers. This describes the way they
hunt. The darters have fatter and shorter bodies and
they perch on reeds waiting for the prey to come
past and then they dart out and catch them. The
hawkers are longer and thinner and they patrol up
and down looking out for prey on which to swoop.
Both darters and hawkers are brilliant flyers and
can fly very fast and out manoeuvre their prey with
ease. |
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Related to
dragonflies are the damselflies. These have the thin
bodies of the hawkers. But they do not have as
strong a flight. Another way of telling them from
dragonflies is to look at what they do with their
wings when they settle. While dragonflies hold their
wings out flat, damselflies hold their wings upright
above their body, like butterflies do. |
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Brighton Road
Hurstpierpoint
East Sussex
BN6 9EF
01273 832201
Open Every Day*
9.30am - 5.00pm
*Not
Christmas Week
Children under 3 years
FREE
Children over 3 £4.50
Adults £5.00
OAP £4.50
Season tickets available
Group Bookings |