--> Dragons first appear in the fossil records some 360 million years ago. Then, they had an overall wingspan of ----some 75 cm. This compares with a modern Wood Pigeon.
--> They are carnivorous throughout their life cycle. Larva & adult.
--> It took a further 150 million years for an aerial predator to evolve
-the Pterodactyl a bird; without feathers.
--> Dragons responded by getting smaller and becoming Ace flyers.
--> Dragons have survived every extinction event known in 360m years.
--> Dragons are unique in having two sets of male genitalia, and a unique mating process.
--> Their young develop in fresh water, over one to several years.
--> Today there are some 5,700 known species worldwide.
--> They do not pupate, they have an incomplete metamorphosis similar to the possibly more ancient Mayfly.
--> Some species metamorphose within weeks, others take several years.
--> They can fly at some 40Kmph in any direction, hover and soar and 'loop the loop'.
--> How they fly so well, and manoeuvre so precisely is still largely unknown.
--> Adults dine on garden pests, in huge numbers whilst on the wing.
--> They neither sting nor bite people.
--> Dragons are fiercely territorial, and will defend a mating site to the death.
--> After mating and laying eggs they live on, in serial monogamy, until too, old, cold, or worn out to fly,
-->Climate warming is likely to increase their range.
-->In some countries they are a delicacy spitted and roasted.
-->Dragons are probably the most recognised, beautiful, and useful, consumers of garden pest eating insects.
P.S. You are unlikely to find Dragons on display in a museum. Unlike butterflies, Dragons are pigmented rather than optically refractive. Dragons tend to lose their colours on death so please do not try and collect them. Instead:
photograph them and record them (see 'Recording' page below) and/or create a pond in your garden!.
