One of the things that makes dragonflies so deadly is their success rate. According to experts at Sandia National Laboratories, they are one of the most adept hunters, catching a whopping 95% of the critters they go after when looking for a meal. Dragonflies operate with such precision, they are being used as models for improving missile defense systems. But what is it that makes these tiny creatures so successful?
Researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute discovered that one of the insect’s abilities involves an acute sense of awareness. During an attack, they know where their prey is in relation to their own bodies, and they move based on how they expect their prey to move, instead of simply reacting to their target’s movement. Researchers explained that this kind of maneuver is similar to how a person might react as they try to catch a football. But that’s not all. Dragonflies also know how to position themselves below a target to avoid being noticed, all while keeping their eyes fixed on their prey.
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